New Mexico Military Institute reports 63 virus cases

ROSWELL — A military junior college in New Mexico is under quarantine after reporting 63 employees and cadets tested positive for the coronavirus and were isolating, school officials said.

The New Mexico Military Institute went into quarantine Monday, including stopping visitors to the Roswell campus to limit the spread of COVID-19, the Roswell Daily Record reported.

Institute President Maj. Gen. Jerry Grizzle said the quarantine is expected to last until Oct. 29.

Parents will be allowed to visit only in special situations or emergencies, officials said, and all campus facilities are closed to the public for five weeks.

The institute has been updating the status of its COVID-19 cases on a dashboard, which showed Wednesday that two employees and 61 cadets, including 53 still residing on the campus, have tested positive. Some cadets were allowed to quarantine off-site.

Eight employees and 84 cadets have tested positive for COVID19 since the fall semester began in July, officials said, adding most have not had symptoms.

The quarantine announcement came after all employees and cadets were tested for COVID-19 following the discovery of two cadets who tested positive off campus and did not quarantine.

“Please know that this quarantine is to the benefit of all cadets, staff and faculty at NMMI,” Grizzle said. “We want to end the semester strong — and in person. It is our strong desire to have face-to-face instruction again next semester, and, with the cooperation of the Corps, our families and everyone at NMMI, we trust that this can happen.”

The number of infections is thought to be far higher because many people have not been tested, and studies suggest people can be infected with the virus without feeling sick.