New Mexico Reports 933 New COVID-19 Cases and 15 More Deaths

New Mexico has administered close to 46% of the 170,300 vaccines it's received so far—32,582 of them in the last seven days.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the state is administering the vaccine at one of the highest rates in the US, Health Secretary-designate Dr. Tracie Collins said in a vaccine update today (New Mexico would appear to be 15th in the country, based on the CDC's tracker.)

The health department launched the second phase of vaccinations last Friday—Phase1B—which begins with people ages 75 and older and then allows for people with qualifying chronic conditions, followed by certain frontline essential workers and then those in congregate facilities, such as state inmates. Federal inmates, Collins said, will be under the federal government's purview for vaccination. The state also released information on the following group, 1C, which will include people 60 years or older and other essential workers not included in 1B. Group 2, expected to be eligible this summer, includes everyone else.

As for how many people may be in each group, Collins said the department is still "finalizing the denominators for each of the categories." Nearly 400,000 people, however, have registered for the vaccine on the state's registration site (now available in two places: vaccinenm.org or cvvaccine.nmhealth.org). As for problems residents have had accessing the call center (1-855-600-3453), Collins said additional staff has been added.

Hospital leaders speaking this morning commended the state plan, with Presbyterian Healthcare Services Medical Director Dr. Denise Gonzales saying, "The progress that New Mexico has made regarding vaccinations is truly remarkable. We're standing out in this country in a positive way."

Presbyterian has administered 11,500 doses so far to hospital personnel, (A Presbyterian spokeswoman tells SFR this number includes workforce, independent providers and first responders, and so can't easily be translated into a percentage of Presbyterian's workforce).

Lovelace Chief Medical Officer Dr. Vesta Sandoval said Lovelace has vaccinated approximately 65% of its workers and also described her institution as "very excited to be able to support the state's efforts toward vaccinating all of new Mexican."

Likewise, University of New Mexico Health System Executive Physician Dr. David Pitcher described the rollout of Phase 1A as "very smooth," saying "it gives us all in health care great hope that we are going to be able to continue to serve the needs for New Mexicans as they face this ongoing pandemic crisis." UNM, he said, has vaccinated closer to 75% to 80% of its employees.

Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center Marketing, Communications & Public Relations Director Arturo Delgado tells SFR Christus has vaccinated between 65 and 70% and will be prioritizing patients 75 and older over the next two weeks.

All the hospital leaders, as well as Collins, say no doses have been wasted in the state, with the exception, Gonzales said, of "less than a handful" due to faulty needles or syringes.

Regarding the new phases and groups contained wherein, all three hospital officials participating in the morning news conference expressed support for the path forward, with Pitcher saying the state had done a "remarkable job of prioritizing…I would also say there is no perfect system when you're dealing with something like when there's not enough vaccine."

While the plan "may not please everyone," Gonzales said, "the key thing is to get those doses into people's arms."

All three also emphasized that residents should register for the vaccine through the DOH site, which will be coordinating with providers statewide for administering the vaccine.

"We're coordinating very closely with the DOH," Pitcher said. "The DOH will manage calling people up and letting them know when they're eligible."

All three also emphasized the need for continued vigilance with regard to COVID-safe practices, as the state has seen—in days past—rising numbers in the two-plus weeks following Christmas.

"The percent of positive tests remains too high," Gonzales said, "as are hospitalizations and daily case…We must remain vigilant about protecting ourselves and those we love."

Numbers today, however, were lower than they have been over the last few days. New Mexico health officials today reported 933 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the statewide total so far to 157,087. Of those, the health department has designated 78,826 as recovered.

Bernalillo County had 261 new cases, followed by Doña Ana County with 102. Santa Fe County and San Juan County tied for third highest number of new cases today: 69.

The state also announced 15 additional deaths, including a man in his 70s from Santa Fe County who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions. There have now been 88 deaths from Santa Fe County and 2,764 statewide.

As of today, 704  people are hospitalized with COVID-19.*

New cases

• 261 new cases in Bernalillo County
• 19 new cases in Chaves County
• 17 new cases in Cibola County
• 5 new cases in Colfax County
• 33 new cases in Curry County
• 102 new cases in Doña Ana County
• 34 new cases in Eddy County
• 13 new cases in Grant County
• 2 new cases in Guadalupe County
• 2 new cases in Hidalgo County
• 18 new cases in Lea County
• 20 new cases in Lincoln County
• 2 new cases in Los Alamos County
• 21 new cases in Luna County
• 40 new cases in McKinley County
• 1 new case in Mora County
• 40 new cases in Otero County
• 3 new cases in Quay County
• 19 new cases in Rio Arriba County
• 15 new cases in Roosevelt County
• 56 new cases in Sandoval County
• 69 new cases in San Juan County
• 6 new cases in San Miguel County
• 69 new cases in Santa Fe County
• 7 new cases in Socorro County
• 11 new cases in Taos County
• 1 new case in Torrance County
• 1 new case in Union County
• 40 new cases in Valencia County
• 6 new cases among New Mexico Corrections Department inmates at the Western New Mexico Correctional Facility in Cibola County

New fatalities

• A female in her 40s from Bernalillo County who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions
• A male in his 70s from Bernalillo County who was hospitalized
• A second male in his 70s from Bernalillo County who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions
• A female in her 90s from Bernalillo County who had underlying conditions and was a resident of the Casa Sandia facility in Albuquerque
• A female in her 50s from Chaves County who was hospitalized
• A male in his 50s from Grant County who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions
• A male in his 80s from Grant County who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions
• A female in her 70s from Lea County who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions
• A second female in her 70s from Lea County who had underlying conditions
• A male in his 60s from Sandoval County who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions
• A male in his 70s from Sandoval County who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions
• A male in his 70s from San Miguel County who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions
• A male in his 70s from Santa Fe County who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions
• A male in his 60s who was hospitalized and was an inmate at the McKinley County Correctional Facility
• A male in his 60s who was a New Mexico Corrections Department inmate at the Northwest New Mexico Correctional Center in Cibola County

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:

• Albuquerque Grand Senior Living
• Albuquerque Heights Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center
• The Aldea House – Heaven Sent LLC in Albuquerque
• The Aristocrat Assisted Living Community in Alamogordo
• Artesia Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center in Artesia
• Atria Vista Del Rio in Albuquerque
• Avamere at Fiesta Park in Albuquerque
• Avamere at Rio Rancho
• Bear Canyon Rehabilitation Center in Albuquerque
• BeeHive Homes of Albuquerque West
• BeeHive Homes Farmington
• BeeHive Homes Hobbs
• BeeHive Homes Santa Fe
• BeeHive Homes Taylor Ranch in Albuquerque
• BeeHive Homes Volcano Cliffs in Albuquerque
• Belen Meadows Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in Belen
• Bloomfield Nursing and Rehabilitation in Bloomfield
• The Bridge of Farmington in Farmington
• Brookdale Santa Fe in Santa Fe
• Brookdale Valencia in Albuquerque
• Calibre Sagecrest Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Las Cruces
• Camino Retirement Homes in Albuquerque
• Carefirst Assisted Living Willow Wood House in Albuquerque
• Care Free Assisted Living in Albuquerque
• Casa Arena Blanca Nursing Center in Alamogordo
• Casa del Sol Center in Las Cruces
• Casa Palo Duro in Albuquerque
• Casa de Oro Center in Las Cruces
• Casa Real in Santa Fe
• Cedar Ridge Inn in Farmington
• Clovis Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in Clovis
• Colfax Long-Term Care Center in Springer
• Desert Springs Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Hobbs
• El Castillo in Santa Fe
• Elmcroft of Quintessence in Albuquerque
• 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 Carlsbad
• Good Samaritan Society – Manzano del Sol Village in Albuquerque
• Good Samaritan Society Grants
• Good Samaritan Society Las Cruces
• Hannett House in Albuquerque
• Heartland Continuing Care Center in Portales
• Heaven Sent, LLC in Albuquerque
• Ladera Center in Albuquerque
• Laguna Rainbow Care Center in Casa Blanca
• Lakeview Christian Home in Carlsbad
• Landmark at Desert Gardens in Hobbs
• Las Palomas Center in Albuquerque
• The Legacy at Santa Fe
• Little Sisters of the Poor in Gallup
• Life Care Center in Farmington
• Lovington Healthcare in Lovington
• The Meadows Home at the New Mexico Behavioral Health Institute in Las Vegas
• Mescalero Care Center in Mescalero
• Mission Arch Center in Roswell
• The Montecito in Santa Fe
• MorningStar Assisted Living & Memory Care of Albuquerque
• MorningStar Assisted Living & Memory Care of Santa Fe
• Muros de Salvación in Albuquerque
• The Neighborhood in Rio Rancho Assisted Living in Rio Rancho
• New Mexico State Veterans Home in Truth or Consequences
• Odelia Healthcare (Camino Healthcare) in Albuquerque
• Pacifica Senior Living in Santa Fe
• Princeton Place in Albuquerque
• Raton Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Raton
• 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 Spain Assisted Living in Albuquerque
• Senior Living Systems in Los Lunas
• Sierra Health Care Center in Truth or Consequences
• Sierra Vista Retirement Community in Santa Fe
• Silver City Care Center in Silver City
• Spanish Trails Rehabilitation Suites in Albuquerque
• St. Anthony Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in Clovis
• Sunny Day Assisted Living in Gallup
• Sunset Villa Care Center in Roswell
• Tender Heart Assisted Living in Albuquerque
• Uptown Rehabilitation Center in Albuquerque
• Vecinos Santos Assisted Living in Santa Rosa
• The Village at Northrise in Las Cruces
• Village Retirement Community in Roswell
• Vista Sandia Assisted Living in Albuquerque
• The Watermark at Cherry Hills in Albuquerque
• Welbrook Senior Living Las Cruces
• Welbrook Transitional Rehabilitation in Farmington
• Wellesley Care Home in Albuquerque
• Wheatfields Senior Living Community in Clovis
• White Sands Healthcare in Hobbs

Statewide cases

According to a state news release, previously reported numbers included three cases that have been identified as duplicates (two in Bernalillo County and one in Santa Fe County) that have now been corrected. One case previously reported in Otero County has been determined to be among individuals held by federal agencies at the Otero County Prison Facility and is now reported as such. County totals are subject to change upon further investigation and determination of residency of individuals positive for COVID-19.

• Bernalillo County: 44,698
• Catron County: 64
• Chaves County: 7,552
• Cibola County: 2,431
• Colfax County: 600
• Curry County: 4,373
• De Baca County: 112
• Doña Ana County: 18,996
• Eddy County: 5,218
• Grant County: 1,107
• Guadalupe County: 303
• Harding County: 8
• Hidalgo County: 278
• Lea County: 7,316
• Lincoln County: 1,173
• Los Alamos County: 348
• Luna County: 2,526
• McKinley County: 10,569
• Mora County: 134
• Otero County: 2,439
• Quay County: 366
• Rio Arriba County: 2,696
• Roosevelt County: 1,640
• Sandoval County: 9,087
• San Juan County: 11,576
• San Miguel County: 960
• Santa Fe County: 8,139
• Sierra County: 617
• Socorro County: 1,009
• Taos County: 1,274
• Torrance County: 527
• Union County: 202
• Valencia County: 5,311

Cases among people being held by federal agencies

• Cibola County Correctional Center: 422
• Otero County Prison Facility: 433
• Otero County Processing Center: 195
• 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: 281
• Guadalupe County Correctional Facility: 250
• Lea County Correctional Facility: 250
• Northeast New Mexico Correctional Facility in Union County: 165
• Northwest New Mexico Correctional Center in Cibola County: 106
• Otero County Prison Facility: 472
• Penitentiary of New Mexico in Santa Fe County: 175
• Roswell Correctional Center: 227
• Southern New Mexico Correctional Facility in Doña Ana County: 216
• Springer Correctional Center in Colfax County: 151
• Western New Mexico Correctional Facility in Cibola County: 48

*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.