There’s been some good news on the COVID-19 front recently. According to the New Mexico Department of Health Website, by Oct. 5, 49.7% of Eddy County residents ages 18 and over have completed their vaccination series. Eddy County’s vaccination rates, in fact, have gone up when compared to neighboring counties, and we will probably have crossed the 50% mark by the time this column comes out.
On Oct. 4, 102 people received a COVID-19 test in front of the civic center and 104 people received a vaccination inside of the civic center. Many of these vaccinations were boosters. We have received a lot of positive feedback about these vaccination clinics and appreciate everyone’s hard work.
On Wednesday, Carlsbad Medical Center reported a 16 percent positivity rate and being down to six COVID-19 inpatients, including three in the ICU. The Carlsbad Fire Department also reports that COVID-19 EMS calls have been going down. There is certainly still a great deal of concerns, but numbers have thankfully been going down.
The vaccine clinic will continue at the civic center next week, but will not be held on Oct. 11 due to Monday being a holiday. That means that the next time to receive a vaccine at that location will be from 8:30-11 a.m. Oct. 15. The civic center clinics will only be held on Mondays on the weeks of Oct. 18 and 25. Booster shots of Pfizer, for those eligible, are being given now. We anticipate that booster shots of Moderna will also soon be available during these clinics.
The New Mexico Department of Health has contracted with a company called Curative to handle much of the COVID-19 testing. The Curative van will be available on Oct. 11 in the front of the civic center to provide COVID-19 testing from 8:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m.
You may also obtain free COVID-19 tests through a service called Vault. This is an at-home test, but it does involve video consultation, so it is accepted as an official test. Visit https://learn.vaulthealth.com/nm/ for more information.
Community Events: Our summer concert series is back on the agenda. Award-winning local band Stranded will be performing from 7-9 p.m. Saturday at the Water Park Gazebo. Come check it out. There will also be a Pickleball Tournament this weekend – men’s and women’s doubles will be on Saturday and a co-ed double elimination tournament Sunday. For more information, call Ruben Gonsalez at (575) 361-1613.
Cal’s Shade Western has set up a glow bash on Saturday and benefit event for Packs for Hunger on Sunday. The event also includes a memorial bike run that begins at 2 p.m. at the Riverwalk Recreation Center.
Finally, if you are reading this on Friday, Creative Carlsbad and the Carlsbad Museum are hosting the “Addams Family” movie at Halagueno Arts Park on Friday night beginning at 8 p.m.
Sincerely,
Carlsbad Mayor Dale Janway