MLG: ‘Alarm bells should be going off’ over NM trending in wrong direction on COVID-19

New Mexico’s average number of daily confirmed cases is above its goal for the first time since early August, the spread rate remains well above that goal—which led New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and her Human Services Department Secretary to urge New Mexicans to follow the state public health order, despite “COVID fatigue.” “We […]

MLG: ‘Alarm bells should be going off’ over NM trending in wrong direction on COVID-19

New Mexico’s average number of daily confirmed cases is above its goal for the first time since early August, the spread rate remains well above that goal—which led New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and her Human Services Department Secretary to urge New Mexicans to follow the state public health order, despite “COVID fatigue.”

“We have sacrificed so much in this state. We’ve lost New Mexicans. We have folks with chronic illnesses,” Lujan Grisham said. “We have folks who can’t go back to work. We’ve lost businesses, family businesses that have been in the family for generations. We can’t let all the sacrifices we’ve made for each other to be in vain.”

Two possibilities for the increase in new cases that the governor pointed to was the Labor Day weekend at the beginning of September and the easing of some restrictions shortly before that.

“We did alert New Mexicans that we were expecting a bump from Labor Day and we were increasing risk,” she said.

She also said the state is seeing too many large gathings, including family gatherings.

Human Services Department Secretary Dr. David Scrase said the state had 171 daily cases, on a seven-day rolling average, as of Sept. 25. The state’s goal is to keep that number below 168 cases.

And hospitalizations have also increased.

“This is the real thing, the number of hospitalizations shows us that and we really need to buckle down,” Scrase said.

According to the governor, the 86 currently hospitalized represents a 30 percent increase in one week, since the state reported 66 were hospitalized on Sept. 24.

The spread rate—or the number of people that, on average, someone with COVID-19 will spread the disease to—was at 1.27 as of Sept. 30, well above the goal of 1.05 or below.

On other criteria, however, the state remained in good shape. The test was averaging 6,086 tests per day on a seven-day rolling average as of Sept. 29, above the state’s goal of at least 5,000 cases. And while the test positivity rate increased to 3.24 percent as of Sept. 29, this remains below the goal of 5 percent.

Southern and eastern New Mexico are two areas of concern for the state.

“There’s a very large amount of activity along the eastern border along New Mexico and Texas, even more so in Texas, but of course we’re seeing it here,” Scrase said “And Doña Ana County is also seeing a significant number of cases, with their cases per 100,000 going back into the red today as well.”

Another indication of the increasing spread is that rapid responses, or when the state mobilizes after the report of a positive test at a workplace, have increased again. 

Lujan Grisham said rapid responses in the week of Sept. 21-27 were the second-highest since the state began rapid responses, only behind a week in mid-August. The state performed 248 rapid responses last week. 

Rapid responses spiked the most in Lea County, by 90 percent week-over-week, in Eddy County by 60 percent, and in Curry County by 50 percent.

“It isn’t to pick on anyone or any county, it’s to point out that we can and must be better,” Lujan Grisham said.

We're ad free

That means that we rely on support from readers like you. Help us keep reporting on the most important New Mexico Stories by donating today.

Related

Emily’s List endorses seven candidates for Legislature

Emily’s List endorses seven candidates for Legislature

Emily’s List, a nonprofit that supports women candidates and reproductive rights, endorsed seven incumbents facing general election opponents in New Mexico legislative elections. All…
Equality New Mexico endorses 15 legislative candidates

Equality New Mexico endorses 15 legislative candidates

A New Mexico-based LGBTQ rights organization endorsed 15 candidates for state House and Senate seats for the 2024 elections.  Marshall Martinez, executive director of…
Lujan Grisham pocket vetoes two bills

Lujan Grisham pocket vetoes two bills

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham pocket vetoed two bills the legislature passed this legislative session: one changing the Cybersecurity Act and the other concerning law…
BLM announces final methane waste rule

BLM announces final methane waste rule

The federal Bureau of Land Management announced its final methane waste rule on Wednesday. These new regulations clamp down on the practice of venting…
What consumers, farmers should know about the flu impacting dairy cows

What consumers, farmers should know about the flu impacting dairy cows

Migrating birds appear to have caused a virus in dairy cattle that is causing reduced milk production. So far, the disease, which initially started…
Republicans seek to limit national monument designations

Republicans seek to limit national monument designations

Republican-backed legislation in the U.S. Congress would make it harder for the government to designate new national monuments. The proposed Congressional Oversight of the…
Amid new graduation requirements, what do high schoolers want to learn?

Amid new graduation requirements, what do high schoolers want to learn?

By Margaret O’Hara, The Santa Fe New Mexican The main things that bring Brayan Chavez to school every day: Seeing, talking to and engaging with…
Special ed teachers hope lawmakers OK pay raises, admin changes

Special ed teachers hope lawmakers OK pay raises, admin changes

By Margaret O’Hara, The Santa Fe New Mexican Brittany Behenna Griffith has a laundry list of adjectives to describe the ideal special education teacher:…
Lawmakers must find consensus on competing education spending plans

Lawmakers must find consensus on competing education spending plans

By Margaret O’Hara, The Santa Fe New Mexican A challenging task awaits New Mexico lawmakers in the next 30 days: Reconciling three very different…
Health workers fear it’s profits before protection as CDC revisits airborne transmission

Health workers fear it’s profits before protection as CDC revisits airborne transmission

Amy Maxmen, KFF Health News Four years after hospitals in New York City overflowed with covid-19 patients, emergency physician Sonya Stokes remains shaken by…
Lujan Grisham, Biden admin announce $10 million in federal funds for tribes, pueblos

Lujan Grisham, Biden admin announce $10 million in federal funds for tribes, pueblos

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced Friday $10 million in funding from the federal American Rescue Plan Act was awarded to six tribal nations and…
Proposal to curb executive powers moves to House Judiciary

Proposal to curb executive powers moves to House Judiciary

The House Government, Elections and Indian Affairs Committee discussed a potential constitutional amendment that seeks to limit the governor’s executive powers. The committee approved…
U.S. Supreme Court hears case to restrict access to medication abortion

U.S. Supreme Court hears case to restrict access to medication abortion

The U.S. Supreme Court heard the case about the regulations around mifepristone, one of a two-step regime for abortion medication, on Tuesday. FDA v.…
At stake in mifepristone case: Abortion, FDA’s authority, and return to 1873 obscenity law

At stake in mifepristone case: Abortion, FDA’s authority, and return to 1873 obscenity law

Lawyers from the conservative Christian group that won the case to overturn Roe v. Wade are returning to the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday in pursuit…
Supreme Court to hear two abortion cases this spring

Supreme Court to hear two abortion cases this spring

Later this month, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on the case against the abortion medication mifepristone. It will hear a second…
New Mexico Medicaid to cover cost of over-the-counter oral contraception

New Mexico Medicaid to cover cost of over-the-counter oral contraception

New Mexico Medicaid announced on Wednesday that it will cover the cost of Opill, the first oral contraception approved for over-the-counter use. It is…
U.S. Supreme Court hears case to restrict access to medication abortion

U.S. Supreme Court hears case to restrict access to medication abortion

The U.S. Supreme Court heard the case about the regulations around mifepristone, one of a two-step regime for abortion medication, on Tuesday. FDA v.…
At stake in mifepristone case: Abortion, FDA’s authority, and return to 1873 obscenity law

At stake in mifepristone case: Abortion, FDA’s authority, and return to 1873 obscenity law

Lawyers from the conservative Christian group that won the case to overturn Roe v. Wade are returning to the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday in pursuit…
San Juan County, Navajo Nation settle redistricting case

San Juan County, Navajo Nation settle redistricting case

The Navajo Nation and San Juan County reached an agreement Monday about commission districts after the tribe alleged that its members were not adequately…
MIT ranks NM elections most well-run in the U.S.

MIT ranks NM elections most well-run in the U.S.

New Mexico’s 2022 election was ranked most well-run in the country by Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Election Data and Science Lab’s Elections Performance Index.…
Emily’s List endorses seven candidates for Legislature

Emily’s List endorses seven candidates for Legislature

Emily’s List, a nonprofit that supports women candidates and reproductive rights, endorsed seven incumbents facing general election opponents in New Mexico legislative elections. All…
BLM announces final methane waste rule

BLM announces final methane waste rule

The federal Bureau of Land Management announced its final methane waste rule on Wednesday. These new regulations clamp down on the practice of venting…
U.S. Supreme Court hears case to restrict access to medication abortion

U.S. Supreme Court hears case to restrict access to medication abortion

The U.S. Supreme Court heard the case about the regulations around mifepristone, one of a two-step regime for abortion medication, on Tuesday. FDA v.…
What consumers, farmers should know about the flu impacting dairy cows

What consumers, farmers should know about the flu impacting dairy cows

Migrating birds appear to have caused a virus in dairy cattle that is causing reduced milk production. So far, the disease, which initially started…

GET INVOLVED

© 2023 New Mexico Political Report