CIBOLA COUNTY, N.M. – As it has through the rest of the nation, Omicron is making its way through Cibola County. Case numbers are jumping, Cibola General Hospital is reporting a constantly filled intensive care unit to the United States Department of Health, filled to capacity a majority of the time with COVID-19 patients. COVID cases in Cibola County began to rise dramatically after the New Years holiday, putting Cibola on pace to break its COVID-19 record which was set November 24, 2020 before vaccines became widely available to New Mexicans.
This story analyzes data compiled by the Cibola Citizen from the New Mexico Department of Health, US Center for Disease Control, and US Department of Health and Human Services.
What is Omicron?
Omicron is still COVID-19, but it is far more transmissible than the original variant of the virus, known as Alpha. This means that Omicron can be spread at a significantly higher rate than any of the previous strains of COVID-19 Cibola has had to combat.
The US Center for Disease Control has declared that Omicron, while easier to spread, is not as deadly. Despite because less-deadly, the virus can still interrupt daily life in Cibola, and in many cases has, including closing Grants High School and sending students virtual again due to high amounts of sickness at the school.
How to avoid COVID-19
The CDC announced that the tools Americans have been using remain the most effective tools to protect yourself, loved ones, and the greater community from COVID-19: Wear a mask, social distance when possible.
Above all other precautions, the best way to ensure that a COVID-19 infection does not send an individual to the hospital and overwhelm staff is by receiving a vaccine. Grants-Cibola County Chamber of Commerce member Parkhurst Pharmacy is offering COVID-19 vaccinations at no cost to those in need. Call 505-287-4641 for more information. Visit https://goodtimes.vaccinenm.org/stay-ahead-nm/ for information on state sponsored vaccine events. Guidance on mask wearing has changed recently, with the CDC announcing that a basic cloth mask, like most citizens have been wearing, is not as effective when compared to an N95 mask. Despite the new guidance, the CDC declared that even a minor amount of protection is better than none when in public to defend against COVID-19.
Social distancing is not always easy to accomplish, yet remains a great way of preventing COVID-19 infection. The CDC recommends social distancing of six-feet when possible, meaning to stay six feet apart from others when in a congregate setting.
Omicron rising rapidly
Omicron was first identified in the United States on December 1, 2021. It spread like wildfire, moving from coast to coast, causing a rapid surge in COVID-19 cases nationwide that have contributed to the overwhelming of hospitals and the pause of lifesaving scheduled treatments for patients that do not have COVID. This pause is because there are simply not enough medical professionals to staff beds and provide care to all the sick across the country. New Mexico State University Grants branch offers nursing programs for those interested in serving their nation by fighting COVID-19 on the frontlines in the hospitals; visit https://grants.nmsu.edu/ or call 505-287-6678 for more information. On December 1, 2021, Cibola County was averaging 12 new COVID-19 cases per day. On Dec. 15 the county was again averaging 12 cases per day, and on Dec. 30, the last day the New Mexico Department of Health reported COVID-19 cases for the year, Cibola was averaging 11 new cases per day. December followed a stagnant trend, never once averaging more than 12 cases per day through the month.
On January 3, 2022 the NMDOH reported new cases for the year, the data was skewed thanks to the holiday weekend, with 50 new cases reported, but an average of 13 new cases per day. Come Jan. 5 the county was averaging 17 new cases per day. December was a stagnant line in COVID-19 growth, January very quickly changed that stagnation and began a massive climb in cases. Just days later, on Jan. 7, Cibola was averaging 26 new cases per day. On Jan. 10 Cibola County reported 146 new cases with an average of 44 new daily cases, this trend would not slow through the week. On Jan. 12, Cibola was averaging 57 new cases per day, come January 14, Cibola was averaging 61 new cases per day.
The New Mexico Department of Health does not report new confirmed cases on the weekends, or on holidays. Because of this, the state did not report cases for Jan. 17, meaning that the report which came out on Jan. 18 included data for Saturday, Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. This will skew the data slightly and make it harder to tell the true toll of COVID-19 on Cibola County. In order to meet press deadline, the data for Tuesday, Jan. 18 was not included in this story. If the data is posted before the Cibola Citizen is printed it will be placed in the COVID-19 information bar on Page A1 of this edition, if it is not, the Cibola Citizen will post the data from Friday, Jan. 14.
Who is Omicron effecting?
As of January 14, there is only one age group in Cibola County that has been unaffected by the Omicron surge: The 90+ demographic. COVID-19 case increases by age group are below.
0-9 From newborns to those nine-years-old, COVID-19 has seen a large increase from the beginning of the month. On Jan. 3 the age group had 446 total cases, by Jan. 10 the age group increased to 481 total cases. That is 35 new cases in the span of a week.
10-19
School age children in Cibola have seen a significant increase, and are driving the Omicron surge. On Jan. 3 the 10-19-year-old demographic had 633 total cases, on Jan. 10 that number increased to 707. That is 74 new cases in the span of a week, the largest increase of all the age groups in Cibola County.
20-29
Young adults didn’t see as a large an increase as school age children, though it came close. On Jan. 3 the 20–29-year-old demographic had 737 total cases, on Jan. 10 they increased to781. That is 44 new cases in the span of a week.
30-39
The 30-39-year-old demographic saw a rise in cases similar to their 20– 29-year-old counterparts. On Jan. 3 the demographic had 713 total cases, by Jan. 10 they increased to 758 total cases. That is 45 new cases in the span of a week.
40-49
Following a trend with adults, 40-49-year-olds didn’t see a rise in cases as significant as school aged children. On Jan. 3 the age group had a total of 603 confirmed cases, by Jan. 10 they had 646. That is an increase of 43 cases in the span of a week.
50-59
Older adults saw less of an increase in new cases. On Jan. 3 the 50–59-yearold demographic had 571 total confirmed cases, by Jan. 10 the age group had 600 total cases. This is a 29-case increase in the span of a week.
60-69
On Jan. 3 the 60-69-yearold demographic had 411 total confirmed cases, by Jan. 10 they had 435. That is a 24-case increase in the span of a week.
70-79
Senior citizens in Cibola saw the slowest increase of COVID-19 cases over the week. On Jan. 3 the 70-79 age group had 220 total confirmed cases, by Jan. 10 they increased to 227. That is an increase of seven cases over the course of a week.
80-89
On Jan. 3 the 80-89-yearold demographic had 126 confirmed total cases, by Jan. 10 they increased to 129. That is an increase of four cases over the span of a week.
90-99
Seeing no confirmed increase in COVID-19 cases, the 90+ age group, as they are labeled by NMDOH, had 33 cases on Jan. 3, and 33 cases on Jan. 10. There was no confirmed increase in COVID-19 cases among this demographic.
COVID in Cibola’s schools
The data is clear, school aged children are driving the Omicron increase in Cibola County. The Cibola County School Board was forced, by New Mexico Public Education Department rules, to close Grants High School in Grants, New Mexico. Following their older peers, Cubero Elementary was also closed for the massive increase in COVID-19 cases.
The school district has a five-level plan. If only or less than one percent of an individual school district has COVID-19, they can continue instruction with COVIDsafe procedures in place. If two percent of a school has COVID-19, the hands of every student must be sanitized before students can leave or enter a classroom. Elementary students are to be given handwashing breaks. School nurses and GCCS school administration have the ability to shut down school wings or individual classrooms. Large group gatherings are limited to outside only, and students are expected to wipe their desks.
If three percent of a school has COVID-19, students will be encouraged to social distance three feet, according to the state’s public education department, despite this being counter to what the CDC declares. Large group gatherings may only occur outside and must include masks. Lunch schedules will be revisited and potentially staggard depending on the situation. The school is expected to close for one day in order to disinfect all surfaces. All mitigation efforts of the previous levels are included.
If four percent of a school has COVID-19, masks will be required at all times. All staff is expected to work on campus but students will be taught virtually for two days. All staff are expected to maintain six feet social distance, and will be subject to random COVID-19 testing even if they’re vaccinated. Large group gatherings are banned unless they are essential, the district provides graduation ceremonies as an example of essential large gatherings. Mitigation efforts of previous levels are included. If five percent of a school has COVID-19, the school will be closed for at least 10 days. All staff will still be required to work from campus, and must maintain six feet in social distancing. No indoor staff or group meetings are allowed. Shared eating spaces for staff are banned. Special education students will be allowed to attend the closed campus for education and other services after the two-day cleaning period. The full campus will be disinfected.
Despite the level of COVID-19 spread at any individual school, no staff member will have the ability to work virtually. This COVID-19 mitigation plan by GCCS was last updated on Jan. 5.
COVID-19 remains a major threat to Cibola County. Protect yourself, your family, and your community by getting a vaccine. Visit https://goodtimes.vaccinenm.org/stay-ahead-nm/ for more information on the COVID vaccine.