Los Alamos Reporter

NMPED Confirms New COVID Cases Across New Mexico Public Schools

NMED NEWS

As of 9/21, five staff members, one student have tested positive

The Public Education Department on Sept. 21 announced six new positive cases of COVID-19 in the last 24-hours. Following rapid response and verifying all pertinent information with the schools and school districts, the following new cases were reported:

·         Two cases at two public schools in Chaves County. The infected individuals are staff members. The infected individuals were last in the school buildings on Sept.17. All staff members and the parents and guardians of all students in the affected school have been notified of the positive cases.

·         Two cases at a public school and a district office in Roosevelt County. The infected individuals are two staff members. The infected individuals were last in the school building or office Sept. 9 and Sept. 11. All staff members and the parents and guardians of all students in the affected buildings have been notified of the positive cases.

·         One case at a public school in Dona Ana County. The infected individual is a staff member. The infected individual was last on school property on Sept. 14. All staff members and the parents and guardians of all students in the affected school have been notified of the positive case.

·         One case at a public school in Sierra County. The infected individual is a student.  The infected individual was last on school property on Sept. 14.  All staff members and the parents and guardians of all students in the affected school have been notified of the positive case.

The affected classrooms and school facilities will be thoroughly disinfected, and any staff or students who came into close contact with a newly diagnosed individual will be quarantined for 14 days. “Close contact” means being within 6 feet for three minutes or more. Staff who were close contacts must get tested for COVID-19 and provide the school with test results prior to returning to in-person duties.

The PED has collected data since Aug. 17; moving forward, cumulative totals will include those data. The total number of cases in school populations is currently at 132.

For additional information about COVID-19 safety in schools, please visit: https://bit.ly/SafeSchoolsNM.