Quick Reads

Recap of New Mexico COVID-19 news (1/13/21 edition)

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This morning recap of COVID-19 news from New Mexico is available in a free email every weekday. Sign up here. See all of our COVID-19 coverage here. The state of New Mexico reported 893 new cases of COVID-19 and 30 additional deaths on Tuesday, the second straight day of fewer than 1,000 cases. Read more here.It’s a small improvement in cases, the Albuquerque Journal reported. This came after a surge last week from the holiday lull.The U.S. Supreme Court brought back restrictions on medication abortion, which will force those seeking the medicine to a doctor’s office; previously, doctors could prescribe the pill after a telemedicine appointment.

Quick Reads

Second straight day of fewer than 1,000 COVID-19 cases in NM

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The state of New Mexico had fewer than 1,000 reported cases of COVID-19 for the second straight day, possibly a sign that cases may be dropping, though the number of those hospitalized with the disease ticked up. The state Department of Health reported 893 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday and 30 additional deaths related to the disease. Bernalillo County had the most newly reported cases on Tuesday, with 231. Doña Ana County was the only other county with 100 or more cases, with 105. DOH also reported 23 new cases among inmates held by the state Department of Corrections.

covid-19 vaccine

DOH, hospital leaders talk about COVID-19 vaccine rollout, COVID-19 spread

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As New Mexico looks to move to phase 1B of its COVID-19 vaccination plan, nearly 400,000 New Mexicans have signed up to get their name on the list, Health Secretary-designate Dr. Tracie Collins said in a press conference Monday. As of Monday, and citing information from 81 percent of providers, Collins said the state had received more than 170,000 doses from the federal government—despite a rocky process on the federal level—and administered 78,143 of those doses, including more than 30,000 in the last week. Those who qualify for a vaccination “will receive a notification when a vaccine is available at a nearby location” and be able to set up an appointment, Collins said. She also said that the state was working to hire more employees for the state’s vaccine call center to avoid long wait times or, which happened at times last week, the inability for some to even connect to the call center. She said the state’s goal was to have more capacity than the needs for calls.

2020 elections

Trump campaign drops election lawsuit nearly 70 days after election day

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Donald Trump’s campaign dropped a lawsuit over the use of ballot drop boxes in New Mexico’s elections—part of the campaign’s nationwide, unsuccessful efforts to overturn election results after he lost his reelection bid. 

The campaign filed the lawsuit in mid-December, weeks after the election and after the state had certified its election results and the same day New Mexico’s electors cast their ballots for Democrat Joe Biden. The lawsuit centered on the legality of ballot dropboxes for absentee ballots, and echoed a lawsuit filed in state court by the party. The party withdrew that lawsuit ahead of the election after it said the party came to a “consensual resolution” with the Secretary of State. Like the other lawsuits, dozens of which the campaign had dismissed or lost, the lawsuit was aimed at overturning election results. But unlike in some states with relatively close margins of victory for Joe Biden, Trump lost the election in New Mexico by nearly 100,000 votes and over 11 percentage points.

coronavirus

Recap of New Mexico COVID-19 news (1/12/21 edition)

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This morning recap of COVID-19 news from New Mexico is available in a free email every weekday. Sign up here. See all of our COVID-19 coverage here. The Department of Health reported 933 new COVID-19 cases and 15 additional deaths on Monday. Read more details here.The DOH secretary-designate and leaders of major hospital systems in Albuquerque spoke about the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine and the need to slow the spread since hospitals remain full. Read more here.Over 400,000 New Mexicans have registered to be told when a COVID-19 vaccine is available, the Las Cruces Sun-News reported.KOB-TV reported on the strain at hospitals.The hospital leaders also said that the vaccinations provided a morale boost to health care workers, KRQE-TV reported.The vaccine hotline as struggled to keep up with demand, the Santa Fe New Mexican reported.The state said that its COVID-19 wastewater surveillance program prevented outbreaks at juvenile detention centers, KRQE-TV reported.On Wednesday, the New Mexico Supreme Court will hear a case on whether the state will be required to compensate businesses for closures.

coronavirus

933 new COVID-19 cases in NM on Monday, 15 additional deaths

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The state Department of Health reported 933 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday and 15 additional deaths related to the disease. Bernalillo County had the most newly reported cases on Monday, with 261. Doña Ana County was the only other county with 100 or more cases, with 102. DOH also reported six new cases among inmates held by the state Department of Corrections. On Monday, the department reported 704 individuals were hospitalized for COVID-19, an increase of 22 people since Sunday.

Quick Reads

Recap of New Mexico COVID-19 news (1/11/21 edition)

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This morning recap of COVID-19 news from New Mexico is available in a free email every weekday. Sign up here. See all of our COVID-19 coverage here. The state Department of Health reported 2,715 new cases of COVID-19 and 39 additional deaths related to the disease on Saturday and Sunday. Read more here.Cases in New Mexico increased by 17.4 percent last week, the USA Today Network reported. This is compared to a time when testing was disrupted by holidays.On Friday, the state announced it had moved into Phase 1B of its vaccination plan.

Quick Reads

DOH: Over 2,700 new COVID cases, 39 additional deaths over the weekend

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The state Department of Health reported 2,715 new cases of COVID-19 this weekend, along with 39 additional deaths related to the disease. DOH reported 1,507 new cases and 22 additional deaths on Saturday and 1,208 new cases and 17 additional deaths on Sunday. On Sunday, the department reported 682 individuals were hospitalized for COVID-19, a decrease of 21 people since Friday. This could include those from other states who are hospitalized in New Mexico, but would not include New Mexicans who are hospitalized out of state. DOH has now found 156,157 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and reported 2,749 deaths related to the disease.

coronavirus

DOH: 1,645 new COVID-19 cases, 30 additional deaths

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The state Department of Health reported 1,645 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday and 30 additional deaths related to the disease. Bernalillo County had the most newly reported cases on Friday, with 430. Two other counties had 100 or more cases, Doña Ana County with 202 and San Juan County with 182. McKinley County was the next highest, with 99. DOH also reported two new cases among inmates held by the state Department of Corrections.

coronavirus

State moves to phase 1B of vaccination plan

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The state Department of Health released its plan on further vaccination efforts in the state, saying the state moved past phase 1A, which featured vaccinating frontline healthcare workers and residents and employees at long term care facilities, to phase 1B. Under phase 1B, those 75 years of age or older, those 16 or older with underlying medical conditions that place them at greater risk from COVID-19, frontline essential workers who cannot work remotely, educators and other school employees and vulnerable populations such as those at congregate care facilities are now eligible to join those part of phase 1A in getting vaccinations. “DOH is pleased to release New Mexico’s vaccination plan – and to provide the clarity that New Mexicans seek about this critical effort,” Department of Health Secretary-designate Dr. Tracie Collins said. The department said Collins would have further remarks in a remote press conference on Monday. 

Earlier this week, Collins said exact numbers were not available because not all providers had reported their vaccination numbers, but the state estimated that about 60 percent of the 106,500 doses the state received from the federal government had been administered. At the same time, DOH announced who would be eligible under phase 1C and phase 2 of the state’s vaccination plan.