As the Omicron BA.2 variant spreads through New Mexico, COVID-19 testing sites remain open in the Northeast Heights and across the state.
As of April 25, the number of COVID-19 tests recorded in Bernalillo County was 2,219,014, according to New Mexico Department of Health data.
On April 28 a Curative testing site was available at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Albuquerque, 5520 Wyoming Blvd. According to the Curative website, the JCC testing location will again be available from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, May 3. Another option in the Northeast Heights is at Balloon Fiesta Park, 9201 Balloon Museum Drive, which is open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., according to book.curative.com.
A Google Maps search of test sites shows Walgreens, CVS, NextCare Urgent Care, and Albuquerque Urgent Care & Telemedicine as other testing sites in the northeast part of the city. The city of Albuquerque’s Office of Emergency Management website also provides free COVID self-test kits. To find a list of the city’s test pickup locations and links to other testing options, click here.
By the numbers
Although daily case counts in Bernalillo County dropped from a peak of 2,059 on Jan. 10 to 48 on April 20, the Omicron BA.2 variant remains a threat, according to health officials.
“COVID-19 cases have dropped since March and hospitalizations continue to be low. However, the most recent two-week data shows the new Omicron BA.2 variant makes up 22.1 percent of cases in New Mexico and continues to expand across the state, trailing behind the rest of the [country],” reads a NM DOH press release from April 15.
The number of cumulative cases in Bernalillo County increased from 56,556 on April 26, 2021, to 147,755 on April 25, 2022. The seven-day rolling average number of cases in the county was 83 on April 26 of last year, and 43 as of April 23 of this year. The highest seven-day rolling average number of cases for the county was 1,543, reported by NM DOH on Jan. 14, 2022. Between April 12-25 of this year, the positivity rate in Bernalillo County was 4%, or 8.7 cases per 100,000.
The NM DOH also breaks down the total number of cases by ZIP code, with 87109 having 8,501 cases, 87111 showing 9,050 cases, and 87122 with 2,477 COVID cases.
In Bernalillo County, those ages 20-29 have the most cases with 29,317, followed by those age 30-39 with 26,688 cases.
State stats
At the state level, hospitalizations are down compared to Jan. 27, when there were 713 hospitalizations in New Mexico due to COVID. As of April 27, there were 49 hospitalizations throughout the state. The cumulative number of deaths in New Mexico from COVID-19 were at 7,465 as of April 27.
Although there is not enough data to know the severity of illness caused by the Omicron BA.2 variant and its subvariants, researchers say they spread fast and are the cause of a significant percentage of all cases in the United States. David Scrase, acting secretary for the NM DOH, recommends getting a booster shot, if eligible, or an initial COVID vaccine, if not already protected.
“We know being up-to-date on vaccines is the best way to safeguard ourselves, our families, and our communities and reduce the risk of medically significant disease, hospitalization and death from COVID-19,” Scrase said in the April 15 press release.
Use the map below to find COVID testing sites in northeast Albuquerque or visit findatestnm.org.
