COVID-19 had its most lax month in Cibola County since April. Disease transmission is down and September was the first month in the whole year without a single COVID-19 related death. As the year begins to grow colder and Cibola residents are leaving the parks for warmth at home, COVID numbers are slowly growing as the county enters October. Statistics will be important to watch through the month as they may indicate what course the disease takes across Cibola over the next several months.
Only one age group in Cibola had more than 10 new COVID-19 infections through September. Two age groups had exactly 10 new cases, and every other age demographic in the county increased at a rate less than 10 cases for the whole month. Teenagers largely contributed to the increase in COVID cases through September.
The rate of vaccinations against COVID-19 has increased for the first time since the end of July, according to data from the first week of October. September was another month without a single COVID-19 vaccination. The increase in vaccinations comes as the New Mexico Department of Health begins a new push to increase vaccinations. The new push comes as a new vaccine has been released that specifically targets the Omicron variant of COVID-19 which has contributed to most of the infections in Cibola this year.
Because of the Indigenous People’s Day holiday on October 10, the state did not report fresh data on Monday. Tuesday, October 11’s numbers will be skewed because they will include data for October 8 through the 11.
Numbers Down in September
COVID-19 was on the retreat in September. Cibola had 8,465 total COVID-19 cases at the beginning of September. The month ended with 8,535 total cases. This meant there was only 70 new COVID infections through the month, this is the lowest increase in cases all year. Every earlier month in 2022 has had over 100 new infections, September is the first month of the year to have less than 100 new cases.
When the month began, Cibola had 384 active cases. The second week had a 329 active cases, the third week had 309. The final week of September had 279 active cases.
COVID has done a serious damage to Cibola County, 2022 has been a particularly hard-hit year. The lowest active case count seen was 274 back in April. All year long the county has had at least 274 active cases. Because of the drop in active cases through the month of September. The data appeared to develop a pattern that would continue. It did not.
The first week of October saw an increase to 286 active cases. The past two years have shown an increase in COVID cases during the winter months as families crowd into houses and warmer locations. To prevent catching and spreading COVID, the Department of Health reminds residents to practice safe social distancing, and even though it is no longer common, they remind residents that mask wearing is an effective tool to prevent disease spread.
New cases in Cibola
January had 1,311 new cases. February had 308 new cases. March had 115 new cases. April had 106 new cases. May had 222 new cases. June had 330 new cases. July had 290 new cases. August had 217 new cases. September had 70 new cases.
September is the only month all year long to have less than 100 new cases.
COVID-19 increases by Age Group
Only one age group increased the total COVID count by more than 10 cases. Every other group had 10 or less new COVID cases this month.
The 10 to 19-year-old age group added 17 new cases over the month. This was the highest increase of cases out of all the age groups, and the only age group to increase more than 10 cases. The 60-69-year-old and 50-59-year-old demographics both added 10 new cases through the month, they tied for the second highest increase in COVID-19 cases in September.
The 20-29, 30-39, and 40-49-year-old demographics all added eight new cases each, tying for the third highest increase in cases. The 80-89-year-old age group added four new cases in September, the third lowest increase in the county. The 0-9-yearold age group added three new cases, the second lowest increase in cases.
The lowest increase in cases was – as they have been for the whole year – the 90-year-old demographic. This age group added only one new case of COVID-19 through September.
Vaccinations on the Rise
Residents of Cibola County have started receiving COVID-19 vaccinations once again. This comes after two months where not a single resident of Cibola received a COVID vaccination. July ended with 19,657 residents receiving at least one COVID shot, and 16,421 who have received at least two shots. Through August and September, the vaccination numbers did not change.
In data reporting for the first week of October, the numbers increased.
19,867 residents, an increase of 210 people, have received at least one COVID-19 shot. 16,564 residents, an increase of 143 people, have received at least two COVID-19 shots. The COVID-19 vaccine, dependent on age and immune system deficiencies, can be up to five shots. An increase in advertising from the state Department of Health, and a new COVID-19 vaccine that specifically targets the omicron variant are most likely responsible for the increase in vaccinations, according to the DOH.