Coronavirus Updates

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) — Health facilities on the Navajo Nation are increasing the ability to test for COVID-19 and vaccinate people as the omicron variant spreads.

Navajo President Jonathan Nez says the facilities also are working to give out more home testing kids in January while cases are surging. The tribe reported 179 additional cases of the coronavirus on Sunday and no deaths.

The tribe says a full report with total case counts during the pandemic will be available Tuesday.

The death toll remains at 1,600. 

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) — Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez has signed an executive order requiring all government workers on the tribe’s vast reservation to have a booster shot.

Nez also says tribal health officials have changed how the term “fully vaccinated” is defined by making it two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine plus a booster shot.

SANTA FE – New Mexico state health officials on Friday announced 5,212 additional COVID-19 cases. Per the state Department of Health, the most recent cases are:

SANTA FE – New Mexico state health officials on Thursday announced 5,547 additional COVID-19 cases. Per the state Department of Health, the most recent cases are:

SANTA FE – New Mexico state health officials on Tuesday announced 2,932 additional COVID-19 cases. Per the state Department of Health, the most recent cases are:

SANTA FE – New Mexico state health officials on Monday announced 9,284 additional COVID-19 cases. Per the state Department of Health, the most recent cases are:

3228 new cases in Bernalillo County

6 new cases in Catron County

139 new cases in Chaves County

146 new cases in Cibola County

34 new cases in Colfax County

161 new cases in Curry County

5 new cases in De Baca County

1038 new cases in Doña Ana County

122 new cases in Eddy County

111 new cases in Grant County

15 new cases in Guadalupe County

SANTA FE - The New Mexico Department of Health (DOH) announced on Wednesday that it is implementing revised federal guidance surrounding isolation and quarantine for COVID-19, effective on Thursday, January 6, 2022.

Background

SANTA FE – New Mexico state health officials on Thursday announced 3,231 additional COVID-19 cases and 36 more deaths. The 7-Day positivity rate is 21.7%. Per the state Department of Health, the most recent cases are:

●        1078 new cases in Bernalillo County

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Only a couple of school districts and a handful of individual schools in New Mexico are pausing in-person learning for a week amid rising COVID-19 cases.

That’s according to data collected by the Public Education Department based on voluntary reporting by schools. New Mexico’s largest districts have plans aimed at keeping kids in the classroom this semester. And state health officials said during a briefing Wednesday that the classroom is probably the safest place for children.

SANTA FE – New Mexico state health officials on Wednesday announced 2,514 additional COVID-19 cases and 36 more deaths. The 7-Day positivity rate has climbed to 20.6%. Per the state Department of Health, the most recent cases are:

● 923 new cases in Bernalillo County

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) — Navajo President Jonathan Nez has approved $557 million in virus relief funds for individual tribal members.

Nez signed the legislation late Tuesday to send $2,000 checks to Navajo adults and $600 to children under 18. Tribal lawmakers voted last week to tap some of the $2.1 billion the tribe received in federal coronavirus relief funding for hardship assistance.

SANTA FE – New Mexico state health officials on Tuesday announced 1,654 additional COVID-19 cases and 31 more deaths. The 7-Day positivity rate has climbed to 19.8%. Per the state Department of Health, the most recent cases are:

511 new cases in Bernalillo County

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) — The Navajo Nation reported 10 new confirmed COVID-19 cases and no deaths Monday, but tribal health officials said the first case of the omicron variant has been detected on the reservation.

Based on cases from Dec. 17-30, the Navajo Department of Health has issued an advisory for 42 communities due to uncontrolled spread of the coronavirus. The latest numbers pushed the number of cases on the Navajo Nation at 41,657 since the pandemic began. The death roll remains at 1,590.

SANTA FE – New Mexico state health officials on Monday announced 7,313 additional COVID-19 cases over the last 4 days and 11 more deaths. The 7-day positivity rate has climbed to 17.9%. Per the state Department of Health, the most recent cases are:

2469 new cases in Bernalillo County
10 new cases in Catron County
281 new cases in Chaves County
49 new cases in Cibola County
32 new cases in Colfax County
131 new cases in Curry County
9 new cases in De Baca County
950 new cases in Doña Ana County

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas officials are asking the federal government for increased COVID-19 testing sites and treatment.

The request made Friday follows reports earlier this week that Texas is running low on the antibody treatment that has proved most effective against the surging omicron variant.

SANTA FE - The Department of Health (DOH) urges New Mexicans to avoid large New Year’s Eve gatherings and use safe practices if gathering with others outside of their household. 

Yesterday, COVID-19 cases in New Mexico continued to steeply rise with 2,200 new cases reported and increasing numbers of the highly infectious Omicron variant. Among the most recent COVID deaths were several individuals in their 40s. Hospitals continue to be in crisis standards of care, which means they are stretched beyond their usual capacity due to hospitalizations for COVID.  

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico is running short of free at-home rapid tests to detect COVID-19 infections as the state struggles with the spread of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus.

The company that runs the state's program said Thursday that the state’s supply of tests was overstretched. The announcement came hours after Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham wrote that residents could “order a testing kit today.” By afternoon “all available tests have been shipped” and Vault Health was offering paid testing instead.

SANTA FE – New Mexico state health officials on Thursday announced 2,209 additional COVID-19 cases and 26 more deaths. Per the state Department of Health, the most recent cases are:

●       791 new cases in Bernalillo County

●       1 new case in Catron County

●       156 new cases in Chaves County

●       17 new cases in Cibola County

●       17 new cases in Colfax County

●       31 new cases in Curry County

●       2 new cases in De Baca County

●       259 new cases in Doña Ana County

●       50 new cases in Eddy County

SANTA FE – The New Mexico Department of Health (DOH) announced on Thursday that New Mexico will receive its first delivery of oral therapeutics to treat early COVID-19 infections later this week - an important addition to the state’s treatment toolkit.

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) — The Navajo Nation is reporting 74 new confirmed cases of the coronavirus and five additional deaths.

Wednesday's numbers pushed the cases on the reservation to 41,262, including 67 delayed reported cases. The death toll rose to 1,588.

Tribal leaders continued to push for residents to take precautions to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, including mask wearing, social distancing and washing hands.

The omicron variant has not been detected in samples on the Navajo Nation, but tribal leaders say that doesn't mean it's not there.

SANTA FE – New Mexico state health officials on Wednesday announced 1,371 additional COVID-19 cases and 33 more deaths. Per the state Department of Health, the most recent cases are:

·         407 new cases in Bernalillo County

·         3 new cases in Catron County

·         37 new cases in Chaves County

·         16 new cases in Cibola County

·         4 new cases in Colfax County

·         41 new cases in Curry County

·         3 new cases in De Baca County

·         205 new cases in Doña Ana County

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Fewer people are being hospitalized now in New Mexico due to COVID-19.

State health officials reported Tuesday there were just over 460 coronavirus patients in hospitals around the state. The Albuquerque Journal reports that the number marks a drop of more than one-third since Dec. 9. That's when the state hit an 11-month peak that topped 700 patients.

SANTA FE – New Mexico state health officials on Tuesday announced 799 additional COVID-19 cases and 22 more deaths. The positivity rate is 11.2%. Per the state Department of Health, the most recent cases are:

·         308 new cases in Bernalillo County

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) — The Navajo Nation reported 19 new confirmed cases of the coronavirus on Tuesday and no additional deaths.

The latest numbers pushed the cases on the vast reservation to 41,121, including 34 delayed reported cases. The death toll remained at 1,583. Tribal leaders continued to push for residents to take precautions to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, including mask wearing, social distancing and washing hands.

The omicron variant has not been detected in samples on the Navajo Nation, but tribal leaders say that doesn't mean it's not there.

SANTA FE – New Mexico state health officials on Monday announced 3,039 additional COVID-19 cases and 29 more deaths. The cases were reported  Friday, December 24, Saturday, December 25, Sunday, December 26, and Monday, December 27. Per the state Department of Health, the most recent cases are:

●        960 new cases in Bernalillo County

●        2 new cases in Catron County

●        170 new cases in Chaves County

●        35 new cases in Cibola County

●        8 new cases in Colfax County

●        246 new cases in Curry County

SANTA FE – New Mexico state health officials on Thursday announced 1,150 additional COVID-19 cases and 44 more deaths. The 7-day positivity rate is 9.4%. Per the state Department of Health, the most recent cases are:

·         387 new cases in Bernalillo County

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico health officials say COVID-19 transmission rates remain high across the state and they're urging people to be cautious over the holiday weekend.

SANTA FE – New Mexico state health officials on Wednesday announced 914 additional COVID-19 cases and 39 more deaths. Per the state Department of Health, the most recent cases are:

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) — The Navajo Nation is reporting 10 more confirmed cases of COVID-19 on the vast reservation but no additional deaths. The figures released Tuesday pushed the total number of cases to 40,856 since the pandemic began.

The death toll remained at 1,576. Tribal President Jonathan Nez urged residents to get vaccinated and a booster shot to build a defense against variants, including omicron. Vaccines do not prevent people from getting coronavirus, but health officials say the shots are effective in reducing the risk of severe illness and death.

SANTA FE – New Mexico state health officials on Tuesday announced 733 additional COVID-19 cases and 48 more deaths. There have been 340,604 cases total and the 7-day positivity rate is 9.4%. Per the state Department of Health, the most recent cases are:

• 266 new cases in Bernalillo County