Data from the Centers for the Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) showed downward trends in COVID-19 cases in Eddy County based on new criteria.
Acting New Mexico Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Dr. David Scrase announced the CDC’s new COVID-19 Community Level map during a March 2 statewide news conference. CDC’s new map colors were green, yellow, and orange, Scrase said.
CDC defined green as limited impact on the healthcare system with low levels of severe illness. CDC termed the yellow category or medium as having some impact on the healthcare system with more people dealing with severe illness. Orange, was the highest category for potential strains on the healthcare system with higher levels of severe illness, read the CDC’s new map.
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A CDC map from March 7, placed Eddy and Chaves counties in the medium level and Lea County at the low level.
“The map is a new tool to help communities decide what prevention measures to take,” read information from the news conference.
The new map measured how many people with COVID-19 had been admitted into local hospitals in a given week. Local hospital beds with COVID-19 patients and the number of new cases in a given in a given week were part of the mapping process as well.
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“I do think they are helpful,” said Dr. Vesta Sandoval Chief Medical Officer with Lovelace Health System in Albuquerque and Roswell.
She said medical officials across New Mexico were trying to learn what the new system meant for individual counties.
“All of the gating criteria and the various yellow-green have to be taken with a grain of salt and if you are an older person or more immunocompromised or susceptible person, wearing a mask and taking precautions is still the best thing for you,” Sandoval said.
She said individuals should determine if they are at risk for COVID-19 infections.
“I think that’s a very important point,” Sandoval said.
DOH Eddy County had a total of 15 new COVID-19 cases cited from March 2 through March 4.
Two deaths were cited during the three-day reporting period by DOH.
A delayed death was cited March 2 by DOH as a man in his 60s was hospitalized with underlying medical conditions.
More:COVID-19 cases in Eddy County continue to decrease
“COVID(-19) related deaths are reported when a death certificate has been issued and some death certificates are delayed due to insufficient information,” read a DOH news release.
March 3 a man in his 50s died. He was hospitalized, according to DOH.
As of March 4, Eddy County had 261 total COVID-19 deaths and 16,950 total cases with 16,013 recovered and 160,006 total tests, read DOH data.
“We’re seeing a rapid decrease in numbers,” Sandoval said. “We have vaccinations which can prevent severe disease. We have treatments that can prevent more severe disease. What we are faced with in the future is hard to say. I anticipate this is something that is going to come in waves.”
Mike Smith can be reached at 575-628-5546 or by email at MSmith@currentargus.com or @ArgusMichae on Twitter.
