State Announces $10 Million Vaccination Lottery

DOH reports 381 new COVID-19 cases over four-day period

by

New Mexico unveiled a $10 million vaccination incentive program today—the Vax 2 the Max Sweepstakes— as it pushes toward a 60% full vaccination rate by the end of the month. The state is using American Rescue Plan stimulus funds for the program following guidance issued last week by the US Treasury Department that allows for such use, and endorsement by the White House for doing so.

“We encourage states to use their creativity to draw attention to vaccines and to get their states and the country back to normal as quickly as possible,” White House senior advisor for COVID-19 Andy Slavitt said during a press briefing. “This includes lottery programs for vaccinated individuals—cash or in-kind transfers or other monetary incentives—for individuals to get vaccinated.”

In New Mexico, five weekly drawings will start in the middle of June, with all vaccinated New Mexicans who opt into the sweepstakes eligible for a $250,000 prize from each of the state’s four public health regions, a total of $1 million in cash prizes each week. The New Mexico Lottery will conduct the cash sweepstakes drawings. The state will also award a grand prize of $5 million at the end of the lottery in early August, to one winner drawn from the statewide pool of vaccinated New Mexicans registered for the sweepstakes. To be eligible, register and verify your personal and vaccine information at vax2themaxnm.org. Winners will be required to produce their CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card upon claiming their prize. Read the full rules here.

“Getting vaccinated is the right thing to do—for yourself, for your family and for your state,” Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said in a statement. “I’m excited to add a little fun to our nation-leading vaccination push. New Mexicans have sacrificed a lot over the last year. Now anyone who has stepped up to get their shots will have a chance to win some excellent prizes—please encourage your friends and neighbors to opt in for their chance to win big and to sign up for their shots as soon as possible!”

Starting next week, vaccine providers partnering with the state vaccinenm.org registration site will award other prizes to New Mexicans receiving their vaccines, including: staycation packages; fishing and hunting licenses; day-use passes for state parks, museums and cultural sites. Also starting next week, the New Mexico Lottery will bring 10 “prize wheels” to provider sites across the states where New Mexicans receiving vaccinations will be eligible for chance to win assorted prizes, including New Mexico Lottery tickets.

New Mexico health officials today reported 381 new COVID-19 cases for May 29 through today, bringing the total number of cases to 203,151. The health department has designated 189,692 of those cases as recovered.

Bernalillo County had 103 new cases, followed by 54 in San Juan County and 51 in Lea County. Santa Fe County had 18 new cases.

The state also announced two additional deaths, both dated more than 30 days ago, from Bernalillo and Lea counties. According to the health department, COVID-related deaths are reported once a death certificate has been issued, with some death certificates delayed due to insufficient information.

As of today, 105 people are hospitalized with COVID-19.*

Currently, 65.6% of New Mexicans have had at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and 55.8% are fully vaccinated. In Santa Fe County, 74.5% have had at least one dose and 64.1% are fully inoculated.

New cases

  • 103 new cases in Bernalillo County
  • 13 new cases in Chaves County
  • 4 new cases in Cibola County
  • 4 new cases in Colfax County
  • 4 new cases in Curry County
  • 34 new cases in Doña Ana County
  • 1 new case in Eddy County
  • 6 new cases in Grant County
  • 2 new cases in Guadalupe County
  • 51 new cases in Lea County
  • 6 new cases in Lincoln County
  • 1 new case in Los Alamos County
  • 4 new cases in Luna County
  • 10 new cases in McKinley County
  • 1 new case in Mora County
  • 4 new cases in Otero County
  • 12 new cases in Rio Arriba County
  • 6 new cases in Roosevelt County
  • 26 new cases in Sandoval County
  • 54 new cases in San Juan County
  • 2 new cases in San Miguel County
  • 18 new cases in Santa Fe County
  • 1 new case in Socorro County
  • 7 new cases in Torrance County
  • 1 new case in Union County
  • 5 new cases in Valencia County
  • 1 new case among individuals held by federal agencies at the Otero County Processing Center

Newly reported fatalities from more than 30 days ago

  • A female in her 80s from Bernalillo County who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions
  • A male in his 80s from Lea 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:

  • The Aristocrat Assisted Living Center in Alamogordo
  • Aztec Healthcare in Aztec
  • Bear Canyon Rehabilitation Center in Albuquerque
  • BeeHive Homes Clovis
  • BeeHive Homes Portales
  • Casa de Oro in Las Cruces
  • Genesis Healthcare Uptown in Albuquerque
  • Genesis Rio Rancho Center
  • Genesis Silver City Care Center in Silver City
  • Good Samaritan Society Grants
  • Good Samaritan Society Las Cruces
  • Homes with a Heart Assisted Living - Raven House in Albuquerque
  • Laguna Rainbow Care Center in Casa Blanca
  • Lakeview Christian Home in Carlsbad
  • The Meadows Home at the New Mexico Behavioral Health Institute in Las Vegas
  • New Mexico State Veterans Home in Truth or Consequences
  • Princeton Place in Albuquerque
  • The Rehabilitation Center of Albuquerque
  • Retirement Ranches in Clovis
  • The Rio at Las Estancias in Albuquerque
  • Sierra Health Care Center in Truth or Consequences
  • Sombrillo Nursing Home in Los Alamos
  • Sunset Vista Senior Living Center in Silver City
  • The Village at Alameda in Albuquerque
  • Vista Hermosa in Santa Fe

Statewide cases

According to a health department news release, previously reported numbers included 47 cases that have been identified as duplicates (13 in Bernalillo County, two in Chaves County, two in Curry County, four in Doña Ana County, four in Lea County, two in Lincoln County, one in McKinley County, three in Otero County, one in Quay County, two in Roosevelt County, four in San Juan County, three in Sandoval County, three in Santa Fe County, one in Sierra County, one in Taos County and one in Valencia County) and four cases in Bernalillo County that were not lab confirmed—these have now been corrected. One death reported on July 7 of a male in his 40s from McKinley County was not due to COVID-19 infection and has been corrected. County totals are subject to change upon further investigation and determination of residency of individuals positive for COVID-19.

  • Bernalillo County: 58,494
  • Catron County: 95
  • Chaves County: 9,024
  • Cibola County: 2,897
  • Colfax County: 785
  • Curry County: 5,254
  • De Baca County: 172
  • Doña Ana County: 24,895
  • Eddy County: 6,877
  • Grant County: 1,726
  • Guadalupe County: 431
  • Harding County: 12
  • Hidalgo County: 363
  • Lea County: 8,361
  • Lincoln County: 1,744
  • Los Alamos County: 530
  • Luna County: 3,360
  • McKinley County: 12,348
  • Mora County: 172
  • Otero County: 4,028
  • Quay County: 518
  • Rio Arriba County: 3,675
  • Roosevelt County: 2,011
  • Sandoval County: 12,128
  • San Juan County: 15,476
  • San Miguel County: 1,370
  • Santa Fe County: 10,461
  • Sierra County: 777
  • Socorro County: 1,323
  • Taos County: 1,686
  • Torrance County: 833
  • Union County: 255
  • Valencia County: 6,810

Cases among people being held by federal agencies

  • Cibola County Correctional Center: 445
  • Otero County Federal Prison Facility: 446
  • Otero County Processing Center: 226
  • Torrance County Detention Facility: 157

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

  • Central New Mexico Correctional Facility in Valencia County: 298
  • Guadalupe County Correctional Facility: 253
  • Lea County Correctional Facility: 762
  • Northeast New Mexico Correctional Facility in Union County: 167
  • Northwest New Mexico Correctional Center in Cibola County: 128
  • Otero County Prison Facility: 473
  • Penitentiary of New Mexico in Santa Fe County: 219
  • Roswell Correctional Center: 229
  • Southern New Mexico Correctional Facility in Doña Ana County: 231
  • Springer Correctional Center in Colfax County: 151
  • Western New Mexico Correctional Facility in Cibola County: 75

*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.