Rapid response reveals 18 COVID-19 positive employees at Ruidoso McDonald's

This story was updated Aug. 28.

The New Mexico Environment Department rapid response data revealed that McDonald's in Ruidoso had 18 COVID-19 positive employees.

The employees of the restaurant, at 140 Sudderth, are among a group of 28 employee positive cases throughout Lincoln County according to data which covers July 2 through Aug. 19. The names of those who have tested positive were not released to the media as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) protects patient privacy. 

Timeline of positive cases

On Aug. 9 the first case of a COVID-19 positive employee was reported at the restaurant.

On Aug. 13 a second employee tested positive, and on Aug. 14 two more employees tested positive. On Aug. 19 the NMED recorded another positive employee test.

Then on Aug. 21, 13 employees at the restaurant tested positive during a rapid response.

More:Here are the businesses in Lincoln County investigated for COVID-19 outbreaks

“Our highest priority is to protect the health and well-being of our employees and customers – nothing is more important to us than the safety of our community," read an emailed statement from the The Karpenko Organization, which owns the local franchise.

"When we learned that employees at our restaurant located at 140 Sudderth Avenue in Ruidoso tested positive for the coronavirus, we immediately closed the restaurant and notified local health authorities."

The Karpenko Organization said it "identified and reached out to all restaurant staff who had been in close contact with the employees who contracted the virus and advised them to self-quarantine."

The restaurant was closed Aug. 15, the statement read, "out of an abundance of caution." During the closure four deep cleanings in accordance with Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines were performed. The company said it also enlisted the help of a professional cleaning and restoration company.

"We are pleased to announce that all quarantined employees are doing well and are symptom free," the statement read.

The company said it would conduct sanitization procedures nightly with a focus on "high touch point areas in the restaurant throughout the day."

"We will continue to provide gloves and masks to our crew members on a daily basis and facilitate wellness and temperature checks before each shift. The protective barriers at the counter and drive-thru will remain in place, and we continue to practice social distancing and enhanced hygiene procedures," the statement read.

McDonald's across New Mexico

McDonald's in Albuquerque, Portales, Hobbs, Roswell, Carlsbad, Clovis, Farmington, Las Cruces, Rio Rancho, Santa Fe and Shiprock have all reported cases of employees testing positive for COVID-19, according to the data.

 A total of over 50 employees of those franchises statewide have contracted the virus, according to the data which on Aug. 27 was partially incomplete.

McDonald's across the state are not the only employer to have high numbers of COVID-19 positive employees, according to the data. The data show that Walmart employees across the state account for about 50 employees recorded in the rapid response data. 

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COVID-19 cases at Walgreens, Sonic and others

Statewide, Walgreen Pharmacy employees number 16; USA Beef Packing had 18; Sonic Driveins had 13; Smith's had more than 10; the Roswell Daily Record had 21; Leprino Foods Co. had 9; Burger King had 6; Chili's had 5; and Albertsons' Markets had 19. 

Per data from the NMED, restaurants accounted for 13.2 percent of all New Mexico COVID-19 rapid responses since May 2020. That percentage was exceed only by retail and wholesale at 13.5 percent and health care at 16.8 percent of rapid responses. 

More:Village modifies some rules to help businesses during COVID-19

Restaurants have been a sector of controversy amid the state's fight against the pandemic. Restaurants in Eddy, Lea and San Juan counties defied Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and the New Mexico Department of Health's orders to close indoor dining as part of a series of efforts to stem the spread of the virus.

On Aug. 26 the New Mexico Supreme Court upheld the Department of Health's legal authority to restrict indoor dining at New Mexico restaurants, as part of its emergency COVID-19 response. 

Lujan Grisham was expected to announce an easing of restrictions, including allowing some indoor dining to resume, in a news conference Aug. 27.

Jessica Onsurez can be reached at jonsurez@currentargus.com, @JussGREAT on Twitter at by phone at 575-628-5531.