The battle wages on COVID-19 surge continues

CIBOLA COUNTY, N.M. – As COVID-19 prepares for its second winter in Cibola County, the disease has reached a grim milestone: More American deaths than the 1918-19 Spanish Flu. The historymaking news comes as Cibola – and New Mexico as a whole – are suffering through a surge of increased cases; an increase in local deaths historically follows a spike in cases, and Cibola has already seen multiple deaths from the ongoing surge. As of September 20, Cibola was considered a “Very High-Risk” area for unvaccinated people.

The Spanish Flu killed approximately 675,000 Americans in a time where the national population was only one-third of its current size, COVID-19 has claimed approximately 676,000 Americans since the pandemic reached New Mexico in March 2020. Across Cibola, the deaths had plateaued for many weeks at 128, but recently gained traction, resting at 132 cases on Sept. 20. The silver lining to these deaths comes with a vaccination rate which has steadily increased, with 14,764 residents vaccinated and over 17,500 with at least one shot.

The surge

Cases have increased recently and are very high across Cibola. The following data is courtesy of the New Mexico Department of Health, due to reporting anomalies, issues and some delays, this data likely undercounts the actual case count in Cibola County. Not all cases of COVID-19

From July 1 to 12, Cibola County had a seven-day average of one new COVID-19 case per day, from July 13 to 18 Cibola was averaging zero new positive cases. After five days with limited case growth, Cibola experienced a slight uptick in positive cases, an average of one new case per day until August 1.

On Aug. 2, Cibola began to see an average of two cases per day. Like a rollercoaster, this ride was only beginning to incline. On Aug. 5 Cibola had an average of three cases per day, by Aug. 13 Cibola was seeing four new cases per day; six days later, the county was averaging five new cases per day.

August 26 to 31 saw an average of eight new cases per day. The beginning of September would see a dip of five new cases on average per day, but that wouldn’t last. On Sept. 12 Cibola saw numbers increase yet again, maintaining a high average case rate.

As of Sept. 20, Cibola had a seven-day average of 10 new cases per day.

Historically, deaths lag behind increases in COVID-19 cases. From August 11, COVID-deaths in Cibola have increased three percent following the ongoing surge in positive cases.

Very High-Risk

Cibola County is considered “Very High-Risk” for COVID-19 spread, according to the New York Times/John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

The “Very High-Risk” designation comes from the per capita number of residents in Cibola with COVID-19.

Currently, 24.8 county are reported to NMDOH. residents have COVID-19 out of 100,000 residents. Cibola will transition to “High-Risk” when it reaches 11.4 per 100,000 residents.

Since Sept. 1, COVID-19 cases in Cibola have climbed over 150. Driving this month’s surge is the 40-year-old demographic, which has increased by 29 cases as of Sept. 20.

The 30-year-old demographic saw the second highest increase, 27 cases since the beginning of the month. As schools reopen to fully inperson instruction, positive cases among 10-year-olds have increased by 25 cases since Sept. 1.

The 20-year-old demographic saw the fourth highest case growth, gaining 21 cases. Children aged zero to nine and those in the 50-yearold demographic saw the same growth, with 15 new cases each.

Those in the 60-year-old demographic saw an increase of 14 cases, and 70-year-olds had 12 new cases. The 80-year-old and 90-plus demographics increased by two and one new case respectively.

Occupied hospitals

On Sept. 1, 47 percent of Cibola’s total reported COVID-19 cases effected males, while 52.99 percent of cases effected females. On Sept. 20, 53 percent of Cibola’s total reported cases effected females, while only 46 percent effected males.

Due to the elevated numbers of COVID-19 cases, there are no available COVID-beds in Cibola General Hospital, the hospital does have one additional ICU bed, but it is not staffed. According to CGH Marketing Director Cynthia Tena, in the event of an emergency or traumatic incident in Cibola County, CGH has two trauma bays in the emergency room. If the trauma requires a higher degree of care, CGH will transfer patients to the level one trauma facility in Albuquerque, N.M., at the University of New Mexico Hospital.

According to hospital data provided by NMDOH, hospitals near Cibola County are just as filled with COVID-19 patients:

As of September 20, Lovelace Westside Hospital in Albuquerque has no available ICU beds and has four COVID patients. UNMH has seven available ICU beds and 41 COVID patients. Lovelace Women’s Hospital has one available ICU bed and nine COVID patients. UNM Sandoval Regional Medical Center in Rio Rancho, N.M., has three available ICU beds and 12 COVID patients.

Statewide, 18,521 people are currently hospitalized with COVID-19.

Silver lining

Vaccinations in Cibola are picking up, as of Sept. 20, a large majority – 71.8 percent of Cibola County – is fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Vaccines reduce the lifethreatening conditions of COVID-19 and can help to prevent the spread of new cases, according to the National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases.

The US Centers for Disease Control recommend either two shots of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, two shots of the Moderna vaccine, or one shot of the Johnson & Johnson Janssen vaccine. Some immunocompromised people may need additional shots.

“If you have had a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) or an immediate allergic reaction, even if it was not severe, to any ingredient in an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine (such as polyethylene glycol), you should not get an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. If you had a severe or immediate allergic reaction after getting the first dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, you should not get a second dose of either of the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines (Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech). A severe allergic reaction is one that needs to be treated with epinephrine or EpiPen or with medical care. Learn about common side effects of COVID-19 vaccines and when to call a doctor. An immediate allergic reaction means a reaction within four hours of getting the shot, including symptoms such as hives, swelling, or wheezing (respiratory distress),” according to the CDC.

Register for a vaccine at https://goodtimes.vaccinenm.org/stay-ahead-nm/

Cibola County’s NMDOH office can be reached at (505)285-4601 for questions or help in registering for a vaccine.

Case spread in Cibola

VERY-HIGH RISK

1 in 7 of Cibola’s Citizens has been infected with COVID-19 Current daily COVID-19 case rates for Cibola per 100,000 people is 24.8. Cibola will reach HIGH-RISK when daily case rates become less than 11.4 per 100,000 people.

Unvaccinated people are at elevated risk in Cibola.

*Data courtesy of New Mexico Department of Health, World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control, New York Times/John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

The battle against COVID-19

14,764 Cibola Citizens are fully vaccinated

17,504 Cibola Citizens have at least one shot

79.4 Percent of New Mexicans have at least one shot

5,776,127,976 vaccine doses have been distributed globally

*Statistics courtesy of New Mexico Department of Health, World Health Organization