New Mexico Reports 1,275 New COVID-19 Cases and 28 More Deaths—Four from Santa Fe County

The first COVID-19 vaccine continued to be delivered across New Mexico today, following yesterday's first shots at Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center, where 112 health care workers caring for COVID-19 patients received the vaccine.

On her second day on the job, Health Secretary-Designate Dr. Tracie C. Collins lauded the vaccine distribution in a news conference this morning: "Today we begin to turn the tide," she said, "protecting ourselves and our communities and moving past this terrible virus toward a brighter day."

As for giving out the vaccine, she said, the "principle here is simple" for the initial doses: They will go "to those most at risk of exposure." That means front-line health care workers first. The next group will be staff and residents in long-term care facilities (currently, the health department has identified at least one case of COVID-19 among staff or residents at more than 140 long-term care facilities across the state).

But how much and to whom remains unknown. For now, according to Collins, all the state knows it is receiving 17,500 initial doses of the vaccine made by Pfizer-BioNTech, but has not been informed how many more it will receive, nor how many will be available from Moderna, which may receive emergency authorization for its vaccine this week.

"The idea is that Moderna, if it's approved, that would go to the long-term care facilities," Collins said. "We're still working on the plans for that and we can provide more information moving forward."

In the meantime, she said, "plans are underway to identify the order we distribute" doses to other groups—"tiers," she said, as more become available.

Regarding the state's first doses this week, according to information provided by Matt Nerzig, deputy director of communications and media strategy for Gov. Michelle Lujan's office, the health department's Albuquerque warehouse received a shipment of 7,800 doses yesterday and today began at 6:30 am sending 2,025 doses to 16 hospitals throughout the state. Two more shipments to two Albuquerque area hospitals were scheduled for delivery by the end of the day, Nerzig said via email

"To be clear, this is the process for redistribution of the vaccine from the DOH warehouse to our rural hospitals who were unable—due to their smaller size—to receive the full 975 doses directly from Pfizer," he wrote.

Five other New Mexico hospitals either have or will receive their shipments directly from Pfizer today, he said.

Collins also said that while most New Mexico tribal governments will be receiving their doses through Indian Health Services, three pueblos—Laguna, Acoma and Picuris—are receiving them from the health department.

Today's shipments from Albuquerque include 450 doses total to those pueblos, Nerzig said.

Collins said as more people become vaccinated in New Mexico, that data point will be made public. However, she emphasized that while the first vaccine has demonstrated high efficacy in preventing people who contract the SARS-CoV-2 from developing the COVID-19 disease, it remains to be seen whether it will prevent people from transmitting the virus.

"This means that as New Mexicans begin to get vaccinated, we still need to wear masks, maintain six-foot social distancing, wash our hands often and keep up with other COVID-safe practices," Collins said. "This is a very important point and bears repeating: Even after getting vaccinated, we need everyone to continue to wear masks and follow COVID-safe practices."

Collins said she had concerns about the Christmas holiday bringing another surge of cases and said she is "hoping New Mexicans really consider that we're in the homestretch" and avoid large gatherings or spending time with people outside their households. "I am really hopeful and excited about this new chapter in the middle of this pandemic and I look forward to really good outcomes and a heathy New Mexico," she said.

New Mexico health officials today reported 1,275 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the statewide total so far to 122,557. The health department has designated 48,105 of those as recovered.

Bernalillo County had 444 new cases, followed by Lea County with 123 and Sandoval County with 97. Santa Fe County had 40 new cases today.

All 33 New Mexico counties will be re-evaluated tomorrow for test-positivity rates and case rates—the so-called red-to-green framework—now being used evaluate readiness for additional economic re-openings. Both metrics are reassessed every other Wednesday. Red counties have case rates of more than eight per 100,000 and test positivity rates over 5%. Yellow counties meet one of the criteria. Green meet both and have the most flexibility. Currently, all counties are red, except for San Miguel County, which has a 5% test positivity rate.

The environment department reports 157 places across the state on its daily COVID watchlist for establishments that have had two or more rapid responses for employee COVID-19 cases over the last 14 days. Santa Fe County is down to just four places: Albertsons on Zafarano; the Santa Fe County building on Catron Street; Smith's Food & Drug on Pacheco; and Taco Bell on Cities of Gold Road. Each place has had two rapid responses, with the exception of Smith's, which has had three.

The state also announced 28 additional deaths, including four from Santa Fe County:

• A female in her 30s from Santa Fe County who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions
• A male in his 60s from Santa Fe County who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions
• A second male in his 60s from Santa Fe County who had underlying conditions
• A male in his 80s from Santa Fe County who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions

There have now been 53 deaths in Santa Fe County, and 2,006 statewide.

As of today, 865 people are hospitalized with COVID-19.*

New cases

• 444 new cases in Bernalillo County
• 54 new cases in Chaves County
• 7 new cases in Cibola County
• 4 new cases in Colfax County
• 18 new cases in Curry County
• 1 new case in De Baca County
• 75 new cases in Doña Ana County
• 70 new cases in Eddy County
• 10 new cases in Grant County
• 6 new cases in Guadalupe County
• 1 new case in Hidalgo County
• 123 new cases in Lea County
• 2 new cases in Lincoln County
• 1 new case in Los Alamos County
• 3 new cases in Luna County
• 73 new cases in McKinley County
• 2 new cases in Mora County
• 20 new cases in Otero County
• 1 new case in Quay County
• 18 new cases in Rio Arriba County
• 24 new cases in Roosevelt County
• 97 new cases in Sandoval County
• 75 new cases in San Juan County
• 10 new cases in San Miguel County
• 40 new cases in Santa Fe County
• 4 new cases in Sierra County
• 6 new cases in Socorro County
• 7 new cases in Taos County
• 2 new cases in Torrance County
• 4 new cases in Union County
• 44 new cases in Valencia County
• 2 new cases among New Mexico Corrections Department inmates at the Central New Mexico Correctional Facility in Valencia County
• 26 new cases among New Mexico Corrections Department inmates at the Guadalupe County Correctional Facility
• 1 new case among New Mexico Corrections Department inmates at the Lea County Correctional Facility

New fatalities

• A male in his 50s from Bernalillo County who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions
• A second male in his 50s from Bernalillo County who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions
• A female in her 60s from Bernalillo County who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions
• A male in his 60s from Bernalillo County who was hospitalized
• A female in her 70s from Bernalillo County who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions
• A second female in her 70s from Bernalillo County who had underlying conditions and was a resident of the Princeton Place facility in Albuquerque
• A male in his 70s from Bernalillo County who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions
• A male in his 80s from Bernalillo County who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions
• A female in her 60s from Cibola County who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions
• A male in his 60s from Cibola County who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions
• A female in her 70s from Cibola County who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions
• A female in her 60s from Curry County who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions
• A female in her 70s from Curry County who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions
• A male in his 70s from Doña Ana County who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions
• A female in her 40s from McKinley County who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions
• A female in her 60s from McKinley County who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions
• A female in her 70s from McKinley County who was hospitalized
• A male in his 80s from McKinley County who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions
• A female in her 70s from Rio Arriba County who was hospitalized
• A male in his 80s from Sandoval County who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions
• A female in her 30s from Santa Fe County who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions
• A male in his 60s from Santa Fe County who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions
• A second male in his 60s from Santa Fe County who had underlying conditions.
• A male in his 80s from Santa Fe County who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions
• A male in his 70s from Sierra County who was hospitalized and was a resident of the New Mexico State Veterans Home in Truth or Consequences
• A female in her 70s from Socorro County who was hospitalized
• A female in her 80s from Taos County who was a resident of the Taos Living Center facility in Taos
• A male in his 70s from Valencia County who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions

Congregate facilities

The Department of Health has identified at least one positive COVID-19 case in residents and/or staff in the past 28 days at the following facilities:

• Adobe Assisted Living in Las Cruces
• Advantage Assisted Living in Rio Rancho
• Albuquerque Grand Senior Living
• Albuquerque Heights Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center
• The Aldea House – Heaven Sent LLC in Albuquerque
• The Arbors of Del Rey in Las Cruces
• Artesia Healthcare and Rehabilitation
• The Aristocrat Assisted Living Community in Alamogordo
• The Aristocrat Assisted Living Community in Las Cruces
• Aspen Care Assisted Living in Albuquerque
• Atria Vista Del Rio in Albuquerque
• Avamere at Fiesta Park in Albuquerque
• Avamere at Rio Rancho
• Avamere at Roswell
• Aztec Healthcare in Aztec
• Bear Canyon Rehabilitation Center in Albuquerque
• BeeHive Homes Deming
• BeeHive Homes Farmington
• BeeHive Homes Gallup
• BeeHive Homes Roswell
• BeeHive Homes Portales
• BeeHive Homes San Pedro in Albuquerque
• BeeHive Homes Volcano Cliffs in Albuquerque
• Belen Meadows Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in Belen
• Blue Horizon Boutique Assisted Living & Memory Care in Las Cruces
• Brookdale Santa Fe
• Brookdale Valencia Albuquerque
• Calibre Sagecrest Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Las Cruces
• Camino Retirement Homes in Albuquerque
• Care Free Assisted Living in Albuquerque
• Casa Arena Blanca Nursing Center in Alamogordo
• Casa del Sol Center in Las Cruces
• Casa de Oro Center in Las Cruces
• Casa Palo Duro in Albuquerque
• Casa de Palomas in Albuquerque
• Casa de Paz in Rio Rancho
• Casa de Rosa in Albuquerque
• Casa Maria Health Care Center in Roswell
• Casa Mis Abuelos in Albuquerque
• Casa Real in Santa Fe
• Casa Sandia in Albuquerque
• Cedar Ridge Inn in Farmington
• Cielos Abiertos Assisted Living in Albuquerque
• Clayton Nursing and Rehabilitation
• Colfax Long Term Care Center in Springer
• Cuesta Manor in Albuquerque
• Desert Peaks Assisted Living in Las Cruces
• Desert Springs Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Hobbs
• El Castillo in Santa Fe
• Elite Senior Care Kathryn House in Albuquerque
• Fairwinds Assisted Living in Rio Rancho
• Fort Bayard Medical Center in Santa Clara
• Golden Hands Assisted Living in Albuquerque
• Good Life Senior Living in Lovington
• Good Life Senior Living in Artesia
• Good Life Senior Living in Carlsbad
• Good Life Senior Living in Hobbs
• Good Life Memory Care Los Lunas
• Good Samaritan Society – Manzano del Sol Village in Albuquerque
• Good Samaritan Society Grants
• Good Samaritan Society Las Cruces
• Good Samaritan Society Socorro
• Haciendas of Grace Village in Las Cruces
• Hannett House in Albuquerque
• Haven Care – Birch House in Albuquerque
• Haven Care – Cottonwood House in Albuquerque
• Haven Care – Fir House in Albuquerque
• Heartland Continuing Care Center in Portales
• Hilldale House in Albuquerque
• Ladera Center in Albuquerque
• Laguna Rainbow Care Center in Casa Blanca
• Lakeview Christian Home in Carlsbad
• Landmark at Desert Gardens in Hobbs
• Landsun Unit of Lakeview Christian Home in Carlsbad
• La Posada Assisted Living in Las Cruces
• Las Palomas Center in Albuquerque
• La Vida Llena Assisted Living in Albuquerque
• The Legacy at Santa Fe
• Life Spire Assisted Living Rio Rancho
• Life Spire Assisted Living Albuquerque
• Little Sisters of the Poor in Gallup
• Life Care Center in Farmington
• Lovington Healthcare in Lovington
• Kingston Residence of Santa Fe
• Mariah House in Albuquerque
• Mescalero Care Center in Mescalero
• Mimbres Memorial Nursing Home in Deming
• Mission Arch Center in Roswell
• The Montebello on Academy in Albuquerque
• The Montecito in Santa Fe
• MorningStar Assisted Living & Memory Care of Albuquerque
• MorningStar Assisted Living & Memory Care of Rio Rancho
• Mountain View Manor in Albuquerque
• The Neighborhood in Rio Rancho
• The New Beginnings Senior Living in Albuquerque
• New Mexico State Veterans Home in Truth or Consequences
• North Ridge Care Center in Albuquerque
• Odelia Healthcare (Camino Healthcare) in Albuquerque
• Pacifica Senior Living in Santa Fe
• Palmilla Senior Living in Albuquerque
• Princeton Place in Albuquerque
• Pueblo of Isleta Assisted Living & Memory Care Facility
• Ravenna Assisted Living in Albuquerque
• The Rehabilitation Center of Albuquerque
• Retreat Healthcare in Rio Rancho
• The Rio at Las Estancias in Albuquerque
• Rio Rancho Center
• Sandia Ridge Center in Albuquerque
• Sandia View Cottonwood Assisted Living in Albuquerque
• Sandia View Spain Assisted Living in Albuquerque
• Seniorcare, LLC – Wyoming House in Albuquerque
• Senior Living Systems in Los Lunas
• Shady Pines Assisted Living in Albuquerque
• Sierra Healthcare Center in Truth or Consequences
• Sierra Vista Retirement Community in Santa Fe
• Silver City Care Center in Silver City
• Skies Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in Albuquerque
• Sombrillo Nursing and Rehabilitation in Los Alamos
• Spanish Trails Rehabilitation Suites in Albuquerque
• St. Anthony’s Healthcare in Clovis
• Sundance Home in Gallup
• Sunny Day Assisted Living in Gallup
• Sunshine Assisted Living in Tucumcari
• The Suites at Rio Vista in Rio Rancho
• Sunset Villa Care Center in Roswell
• Taos Living Center
• Taos Retirement Village
• Tender Heart Assisted Living in Albuquerque
• Tercer Cielo Assisted Living in Albuquerque
• Uptown Rehabilitation Center in Albuquerque
• Vida Encantada Nursing and Rehabilitation in Las Vegas
• The Village at Northrise in Las Cruces
• Village Retirement Community in Roswell
• Vista Hermosa in Santa Fe
• Vista Sandia Assisted Living in Albuquerque
• The Watermark at Cherry Hills in Albuquerque
• Welbrook Senior Living Las Cruces
• West Ridge Village in Albuquerque
• Westwind House Assisted Living in Albuquerque
• Wheatfields Senior Living Community in Clovis
• White Sands Healthcare in Hobbs
• Willow Wood Assisted Living in Albuquerque

Statewide cases

According to a state news release, previously reported numbers included 16 cases that have been identified as duplicates (four in Bernalillo County, two in Chaves County, one in Colfax County, two in Doña Ana County, three in Santa Fe County, three in Sierra County and one in Valencia County) and one case in Valencia County that was not lab confirmed—these have now been corrected. County totals are subject to change upon further investigation and determination of residency of individuals positive for COVID-19.

• Bernalillo County: 35,044
• Catron County: 51
• Chaves County: 5,935
• Cibola County: 1,935
• Colfax County: 407
• Curry County: 3,660
• De Baca County: 74
• Doña Ana County: 15,597
• Eddy County: 3,761
• Grant County: 655
• Guadalupe County: 220
• Harding County: 7
• Hidalgo County: 211
• Lea County: 5,690
• Lincoln County: 941
• Los Alamos County: 216
• Luna County: 2,174
• McKinley County: 8,541
• Mora County: 72
• Otero County: 1,896
• Quay County: 312
• Rio Arriba County: 1,816
• Roosevelt County: 1,214
• Sandoval County: 6,830
• San Juan County: 8,114
• San Miguel County: 628
• Santa Fe County: 6,464
• Sierra County: 464
• Socorro County: 797
• Taos County: 1,005
• Torrance County: 409
• Union County: 172
• Valencia County: 4,152

Cases among people being held by federal agencies

• Cibola County Correctional Center: 417
• Otero County Prison Facility: 430
• Otero County Processing Center: 194
• Torrance County Detention Facility: 47

Cases among people being held by the New Mexico Department of Corrections

• Central New Mexico Correctional Facility in Valencia County: 250
• Guadalupe County Correctional Facility: 205
• Lea County Correctional Facility: 191
• Northeast New Mexico Correctional Facility in Union County: 153
• Northwest New Mexico Correctional Center in Cibola County: 96
• Otero County Prison Facility: 472
• Penitentiary of New Mexico in Santa Fe County: 135
• Roswell Correctional Center: 225
• Southern New Mexico Correctional Facility in Doña Ana County: 182
• Springer Correctional Center in Colfax County: 92
• Western New Mexico Correctional Facility in Cibola County: 4

*Per the health department, hospitalization figures include people who were tested elsewhere but are hospitalized in New Mexico, but don't include people who were tested here but are hospitalized out of state.