COVID-19 test sites are preparing for an increase in patients in Bernalillo County as cases trend upward.
New Mexico Department of Health data shows that from April 19 to May 2, the COVID-19 positivity rate in Bernalillo County was 4.4%, up .4 percentage points from the 4% positivity rate between April 12-25.
Pasquale Gianni, senior communications manager for Curative, a biotechnology company that tests for COVID-19, said, “Yes, we do expect to see an increase in the number of people being tested in Bernalillo County as case counts continue to rise. Curative will remain postured for any spikes and/or surges in order to keep the region safe.”
Gianni said the Curative test site at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Albuquerque tested 421 patients in the last 30 days and 14,608 patients over the past year. The Curative site at Balloon Fiesta Park tested 2,811 patients in the last 30 days and nearly 40,000 PCR and rPCR tests over the past year. Curative also has a site at Nusenda Stadium, where they tested more than 75,000 patients in the last year.
According to U.S. Health and Human Services data, the test positivity rate in Bernalillo County increased from 4.3% from March 23 to April 5 to 5.9% from April 6-19.
There were two new COVID-related deaths in the county on May 3, down from the 20 deaths reported on Dec. 21, 2021. A total of 1,835 people died from COVID in Bernalillo County, or one out of every 370 people, according to New York Times COVID tracking data.
The Times reports the daily average of cases on May 3 to be 74, a 32% 14-day change increase. Hospitalizations in the county decreased by 20% for the 14-day change, as did deaths, with a 27% decrease. For all ages, the Times reports that 70% of people in Bernalillo County are fully vaccinated.
State officials continue to urge residents to get vaccinated and boosted if possible. Testing for COVID is also important to help prevent the spread of the virus. “It’s important to be tested in order to protect yourself, friends, family and your fellow community members,” Gianni said. “We strive to help the state of New Mexico and the community by lessening the impact of COVID-19.”