SANTA FE – The New Mexico Department of Health on Wednesday announced the updated statewide COVID-19 map, with 32 New Mexico counties at the Turquoise Level and one at the Green Level, at which there are fewer restrictions on commercial and day-to-day activities amid decreased virus risk.
There are no counties at the Yellow or Red Levels as of May 19. Counties may still backslide with enhancing risk upon the next biweekly map update, however, if vaccination thresholds are not reached and key health metrics indicating the spread of the virus worsen.
When 60 percent of eligible New Mexicans have been fully vaccinated, the state will graduate out of the color-coded county risk system and remove most pandemic-related restrictions on commercial activities.
New Mexicans who are fully vaccinated may as of late last week opt to set aside their facemasks in most environments, per updated CDC guidance. Unvaccinated New Mexicans are required to retain their facemasks in public spaces – and should seek out their vaccination immediately. Regardless of vaccination status, New Mexicans must adhere to local and commercial requirements regarding facemasks. All New Mexicans are encouraged to continue adhering to COVID-safe practices.
All individuals, including those who are fully vaccinated, should continue to wear well-fitted masks where required by localities, tribal entities, and individual businesses.
“New Mexicans should continue to get vaccinated at the very first opportunity,” said Health Secretary Tracie Collins, M.D. “Not only will it hasten the end of the worst of the pandemic, it will enhance counties’ and communities’ ability to safely begin more and more commercial and day-to-day activities without endangering public health.”
New Mexicans may schedule their COVID-19 vaccination at vaccineNM.org.
Counties that may operate at the Turquoise Level as of May 19 are: Bernalillo, Catron, Cibola, Colfax, Curry, De Baca, Dona Ana, Eddy, Guadalupe, Grant, Harding, Hidalgo, Lea, Lincoln, Los Alamos, Luna, McKinley, Mora, Otero, Quay, Rio Arriba, Roosevelt, Sandoval, San Juan, San Miguel, Santa Fe, Sierra, Socorro, Taos, Torrance, Union and Valencia.
Counties that met both of the health metric thresholds and may operate at the Green Level as of May 19 are: Chaves.
The health metrics used to determine a county’s risk level are:
- A per-capita rate of new COVID-19 cases of no greater than 10 per 100,000 inhabitants over the most recent 14-day reporting period
- An average positivity rate less than or equal to 7.5 percent over the most recent 14-day reporting period
- A county with a fully vaccinated rate at or above a target (45% as of May 19) that increases 5% every other week as more vaccinations are completed
A county that meets none of the criteria upon the biweekly Department of Health map update will be at the Red Level. A county meeting one will be at the Yellow Level. A county meeting two criteria is at the Green Level. A county meeting all three criteria, or having maintained the Green Level for two consecutive biweekly map update periods, is at the Turquoise Level.
The public health order, the red-to-green framework and frequently asked questions are all available at cv.nmhealth.org/redtogreen, where New Mexicans can also view the test positivity rate and new case incidence for each county.
The categories and definitions for each risk level are available below and available at cv.nmhealth.org/redtogreen.
Information from New Mexico Department of Health.