Taos sees surge of cases
Taos County had a sudden surge in coronavirus cases over a four-day period earlier in the week. It was the highest number of cases the county has experienced since the beginning of the pandemic in the spring.
The county reported:
• 10 cases on Oct. 23
• 10 cases on Oct. 24
• 8 cases on Oct. 25
• 15 cases on Oct. 26
The county had previously averaged only a case or two a day.
Due to the sudden surge in cases, Holy Cross Medical Center issued a statement urging people to self-isolate if they are positive and to adhere to state health orders such as requiring masks, social distancing and limited gatherings of no more than five people.
COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus, “typically spreads through respiratory droplets within about six feet of an infected person. Direct social contact increases the spread of the virus,” according to a statement from the hospital.
“Our goal is to slow the spread of the coronavirus to limit the number of people who get very sick from COVID-19. Social distancing and self-quarantine are proven public health measures that can make a difference and protect the most vulnerable people in our communities,” said Dr. John Foster, hospitalist at Holy Cross hospital.
According to the information from the hospital: If you suspect that you have been exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19, you should self-quarantine for 14 days.
If you have had close contact with somebody with COVID-19, you could spread the infection to others without knowing it or having any symptoms. It can take anywhere from two to 14 days after exposure for the test to turn positive, so a negative test today does not mean you don’t have the virus tomorrow. For that reason, it is important to stay in quarantine for 14 after an exposure, even if you tested negative.
Self-quarantine is a method of slowing the COVID-19 spread by staying at home and away from other people.
To date, five Taos County residents have died from complications related to COVID and 228 people have tested positive for it.
In the event you wish to be tested for COVID-19, you can call (575) 751-8951 and make an appointment to be tested at the Holy Cross COVID-19 Testing clinic on Tuesday or Thursday from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.