Health Officials Urge Caution, Say Omicron Peak is Coming

DOH reports 4,119 new COVID-19 cases, 40 more deaths and a rise in hospitalizations

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“Hang with us for another two to four weeks.”

That’s the word from Acting Health Secretary Dr. David Scrase, who delivered an update on the COVID-19 pandemic in New Mexico during today’s weekly news conference.

Right now, he said, “COVID is everywhere,” as case counts and hospitalizations remain high. As of today, 709 people are hospitalized with COVID-19, a 4.5% increase from yesterday.

But modeling shows signs that a downturn is in the offing, with the state expected to reach its peak sometime in the next week. As Scrase told SFR yesterday, hospitals also are seeing decreased need for ventilation among COVID-19 patients and the state anticipates an increased supply of effective monoclonal antibody and oral treatments in the not-too-distant future.

The update came as the health department reported 4,119 new COVID-19 cases, a nearly 23% increase from yesterday, bringing the statewide total so far to 460,062; DOH has designated 334,164 of those cases as recovered. The statewide test positivity rate decreased slightly from 30.0% to 29.9% (the target is 7.5%).

Bernalillo County had 1,164 cases, followed by Sandoval County with 416 and Doña Ana County with 389. Santa Fe County had 240, 92 of them in the 87507 ZIP code, which ranked ninth in the state for the most new cases among ZIP codes. Santa Fe County’s test positivity rate is at 25.10%, according to this week’s community transmission report.

Scrase’s emphasis today remained on vaccinations and, significantly, booster shots.

“The key here is the booster,” he said, “that’s why we talk now about being up to date with your vaccines. If it’s been less than five months, then you’re up to date.”

According to the state’s most recent vaccination report, over the prior four weeks (between Dec. 27 and Jan. 24), 53.8% of COVID-19 cases were among those not fully vaccinated, as were 77.8% of hospitalizations and 93.3% of deaths.

Currently, 91.2% percent of adults 18 years and older have had at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and 77.1% have completed their primary series. In the 12-17-year-old age group, 69.6% of people have had at least one dose and 59.1% have completed their primary series. Among children ages 5-11, 34.6% have had at least one dose of the Pfizer vaccine and 23.2% have completed their primary series. In Santa Fe County, 99% of people 18 and older have had at least one dose and 86.4% have completed their primary series.

Among adults 18 years and older, 40.8% have had a booster shot. According to the most recent vaccine equity report, the state saw a 4.3% increase over the previous week for people receiving booster shots. The optimum number, Scrase said, would be for everyone eligible to receive a booster shot. “We are working on the modeling team of having a better way of assessing immunity,” he said, noting that the Omicron variant is likely to hit a plateau primarily because “it has found most of the people who don’t have immunity.”

The state also reported 40 additional deaths, 25 recent, and 15 from more than 30 days ago, including a Santa Fe County male in his 80s who had been hospitalized and had underlying conditions. Santa Fe County has now had 224 deaths; there have been 6,357 statewide.

Scrase also doubled down today on a return to COVID-safe practices amidst the current surge, utilizing home tests and upgrading masks. The state, as he noted in SFR’s interview yesterday, is working to fill the gap with the federal government by also making tests and masks available.

As for the home tests, don’t wait for results before isolating if you have symptoms, he said, reviewing the isolation guidelines for both vaccinated and unvaccinated people, which reflect recent updates by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Scrase noted that with community transmission as high as it currently is, people should be “extra careful.”

“I think the first principal of learning to live with COVID is a transition from the government telling people what to do to individuals taking personal responsibility,” he said. “I’m not going to large gatherings myself,” he said, adding that he’s reconfigured meetings to be online, washing his hands regularly throughout the day, using hand sanitizer, wearing a mask and relying on home tests.

“We are just seeing an awful lot of indoor transmission,” he said, “so be aware indoors without a mask outside your home, it’s very high risk.”

But (fingers crossed) a downturn should be coming and “when it happens, I hope will be a harbinger of spring,” Scrase said. “I’m really counting on…at least getting a spring break in my job from these high case counts.” Until then: “Be extra safe and stick with us.”

New cases

  • 1164 new cases in Bernalillo County
  • 9 new cases in Catron County
  • 52 new cases in Chaves County
  • 93 new cases in Cibola County
  • 19 new cases in Colfax County
  • 81 new cases in Curry County
  • 2 new cases in De Baca County
  • 389 new cases in Doña Ana County
  • 114 new cases in Eddy County
  • 44 new cases in Grant County
  • 15 new cases in Guadalupe County
  • 1 new case in Harding County
  • 11 new cases in Hidalgo County
  • 143 new cases in Lea County
  • 39 new cases in Lincoln County
  • 44 new cases in Los Alamos County
  • 58 new cases in Luna County
  • 269 new cases in McKinley County
  • 7 new cases in Mora County
  • 72 new cases in Otero County
  • 12 new cases in Quay County
  • 140 new cases in Rio Arriba County
  • 17 new cases in Roosevelt County
  • 416 new cases in Sandoval County
  • 250 new cases in San Juan County
  • 39 new cases in San Miguel County
  • 240 new cases in Santa Fe County
  • 12 new cases in Sierra County
  • 40 new cases in Socorro County
  • 140 new cases in Taos County
  • 7 new cases in Torrance County
  • 5 new cases in Union County
  • 158 new cases in Valencia County
  • 1 new case among individuals held by federal agencies at the Cibola County Correctional Center
  • 2 new cases among individuals held by federal agencies at the Otero County Processing Center
  • 7 new cases among New Mexico Corrections Department inmates at the Northwest New Mexico Correctional Center in Cibola County
  • 5 new cases among New Mexico Corrections Department inmates at the Roswell Correctional Center
  • 2 new cases among New Mexico Corrections Department inmates at the Southern New Mexico Correctional Facility in Doña Ana County

New fatalities

  • A female in her 60s from Bernalillo County. The individual was hospitalized and had underlying conditions.
  • A male in his 80s from Bernalillo County. The individual was hospitalized.
  • A male in his 90s from Bernalillo County. The individual was hospitalized.
  • A male in his 60s from Chaves County. The individual was hospitalized and had underlying conditions.
  • A second male in his 60s from Chaves County. The individual was hospitalized and had underlying conditions.
  • A male in his 70s from Chaves County. The individual was hospitalized and had underlying conditions.
  • A female in her 70s from Curry County. The individual was hospitalized and had underlying conditions.
  • A female in her 80s from Curry County. The individual was hospitalized.
  • A male in his 60s from De Baca County.
  • A male in his 50s from Doña Ana County. The individual had underlying conditions.
  • A male in his 70s from Eddy County.
  • A female in her 50s from Lea County. The individual was hospitalized and had underlying conditions.
  • A female in her 80s from Lincoln County. The individual had underlying conditions.
  • A male in his 30s from McKinley County. The individual was hospitalized.
  • A male in his 50s from McKinley County. The individual was hospitalized and had underlying conditions.
  • A male in his 80s from McKinley County. The individual had underlying conditions and was a resident of the .
  • A female in her 80s from Roosevelt County. The individual was hospitalized and had underlying conditions.
  • A female in her 50s from San Juan County. The individual was hospitalized and had underlying conditions.
  • A female in her 60s from San Juan County. The individual was hospitalized and had underlying conditions.
  • A male in his 70s from San Juan County. The individual was hospitalized and had underlying conditions.
  • A female in her 80s from San Miguel County.
  • A female in her 60s from Socorro County. The individual was hospitalized and had underlying conditions.
  • A male in his 60s from Taos County. The individual was hospitalized.
  • A male in his 80s from Taos County. The individual was hospitalized and had underlying conditions.
  • A female in her 50s from Valencia County. The individual was hospitalized and had underlying conditions.

Newly reported fatalities from more than 30 days ago

  • A male in his 40s from Bernalillo County. The individual was hospitalized.
  • A second male in his 40s from Bernalillo County. The individual was hospitalized and had underlying conditions.
  • A female in her 50s from Bernalillo County. The individual had underlying conditions.
  • A female in her 60s from Bernalillo County. The individual was hospitalized and had underlying conditions.
  • A second female in her 60s from Bernalillo County. The individual was hospitalized and had underlying conditions.
  • A male in his 60s from Bernalillo County. The individual was hospitalized and had underlying conditions.
  • A female in her 90s from Bernalillo County. The individual was hospitalized.
  • A male in his 60s from Cibola County. The individual was hospitalized and had underlying conditions.
  • A female in her 50s from Curry County. The individual was hospitalized.
  • A male in his 60s from Curry County. The individual was hospitalized and had underlying conditions.
  • A male in his 50s from Doña Ana County.
  • A female in her 80s from Doña Ana County. The individual was hospitalized.
  • A male in his 30s from McKinley County. The individual was hospitalized.
  • A male in his 80s from Sandoval County. The individual was hospitalized and had underlying conditions.
  • A male in his 80s from Santa Fe County. The individual 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:

  • A Love for Life (Alcazar St), Albuquerque
  • Advanced Health Care of Albuquerque
  • Albuquerque Grand Senior Living, Albuquerque
  • Albuquerque Heights Healthcare and Rehab
  • Amaran Assisted Living, Albquerque
  • American Heritage Home, Albuquerque
  • Angel Wings Assisted Living Home Care, Albuquerque
  • Arbors of Del Rey, Las Cruces
  • Artesia Healthcare and rehab (San Pedro Nursing), Artesia
  • Aspen Ridge Assisted Living, Los Alamos
  • Atria Vista Del Rio (Morada), Albuquerque
  • Avamere at Fiesta Park, Albuquerque
  • Aztec Healthcare, Aztec
  • Bear Canyon Rehab, Albuquerque
  • Bee Hive Homes Of Edgewood, Edgewood
  • Beehive Homes of Rio Rancho II, Rio Rancho
  • Beehive Homes of San Pedro, Albuquerque
  • Beehive Homes, Clovis
  • Beehive Homes, Deming
  • Beehive Homes, Farmington
  • Beehive Homes, Gallup
  • Beehive Homes, Roswell
  • Belen Meadows
  • Blue Horizon Assisted Living, Las Cruces
  • Brookdale Santa Fe
  • Brookdale Valencia, Albuquerque
  • Calibre Sagecrest Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Las Cruces
  • Camino Retirement Homes, Albuquerque
  • Camino Healthcare (now called Odelia Healthcare), ABQ
  • Casa Arena Blanca Nursing Center, Alamogordo
  • Casa Bella Residential Care, Las Cruces
  • Casa De Carino, Albuquerque
  • Casa de Oro Center, Las Cruces
  • Casa de Palomas, Albuquerque
  • Casa de Paz, Rio Rancho
  • Casa Del Sol Center, Las Cruces
  • Casa Maria, Roswell
  • Casa Real Genesis, Santa Fe
  • Casa Sandia, Albuquerque
  • Cedar Ridge Inn, Farmington
  • Clayton Nursing and Rehab (Genesis)
  • Clovis Healthcare and rehab, Clovis
  • Colfax Long Term Care Center, Springer
  • Desert Peaks Assisted Living, Las Cruces
  • Desert Springs Nursing and Rehabilitation, Hobbs
  • El Castillo Retirement, Santa Fe
  • Elmcroft of Quintessence, Albuquerque
  • Fairwinds Assisted Living, Rio Rancho
  • Fort Bayard Medical Center
  • Genesis Rio Rancho Center
  • Genesis San Juan Center, Farmington
  • Genesis Silver City Care Center, Silver City
  • Good Life Senior living & Memory Care, Los Lunas
  • Good Life Senior Living And Memory Care, Artesia
  • Good Life Senior Living, Carlsbad
  • Good Samaritan Betty Dare, Alamogordo
  • Good Samaritan Manzano Del Sol Nursing
  • Good Samaritan, Las Cruces
  • Good Samaritan, Socorro
  • Kingston Residence of Santa Fe
  • La Posada Assisted Living, Las Cruces
  • Ladera Center Genesis, Albuquerque
  • Laguna Rainbow Care, Casa Blanca
  • Lakeview Christian Home, Carlsbad
  • Landmark Desert Gardens Assisted Living, Hobbs
  • Las Palomas Genesis, Albuquerque
  • Life Care Farmington
  • LifeSpire Assisted Living of North ABQ Acres, Albuquerque
  • LifeSpire Assisted Living , Albuquerque (High Assets Way)
  • LifeSpire Assisted Living, Rio Rancho
  • Little Roses Home of the SW, Albuquerque
  • Little Sisters of the Poor, Gallup
  • McKinley Care Center, Gallup
  • Meadows Home, NM Behavioral Health Institute, Las Vegas
  • Mimbres Nursing Home, Deming
  • Miners Colfax Medical Center, Raton
  • Mission Arch Center (Roswell)
  • MorningStar Assisted Living & Memory Care, Rio Rancho
  • Morningstar Of Albuquerque, Albuquerque
  • Morningstar Memory Care at Northridge, Albuquerque
  • Namaste House Assisted Living, Farmington
  • NM State Veterans Home, TorC
  • Pacifica Senior Living, Santa Fe
  • Palmilla Senior Living, Albuquerque
  • Princeton Place, Albuquerque
  • Ravenna assisted living, Albuquerque
  • Retirement Ranches-Clovis
  • Retreat Healthcare, Rio Rancho Retreat Gardens, Retreat Villas
  • Sandia Ridge Genesis, Albuquerque
  • Sandia View Spain Assisted Living Albuquerque
  • Santa Clara Assisted Living, Santa Clara
  • Santa Fe Care Center, Santa Fe
  • Senior Living Systems, Los Lunas
  • Shady Pines Assisted Living, Albuquerque
  • Sierra Healthcare Center, TorC
  • Singing Arrow Manor, Albuquerque
  • Skies Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center Genesis, Albuquerque
  • Sombrillo Nursing & Rehabilitation, Los Alamos
  • South Valley Care Center, Albuquerque
  • Spanish Trails Rehabilitation Suites, Albuquerque
  • St Anthony’s Healthcare, Clovis
  • Sunny Day Assisted Living, Gallup
  • Sunset Villa Nursing home, Roswell
  • Sunshine Assisted Living, Tucumcari
  • Taos Living Center, Taos
  • The Bridge of Farmington, Farmington
  • The Montebello on Academy, Albuquerque
  • The Montecito, Santa Fe
  • The Rehab Center of Albuquerque
  • The Rio Las Estancias, Albuquerque
  • The Suites Rio Vista, Rio Rancho
  • The Watermark at Cherry Hills, Albuquerque
  • The Woodmark at Uptown, Albuquerque
  • UpTown Genesis, Albuquerque
  • Vecino Sanos Assisted Living (Los Amigos AL), Santa Rosa
  • Vida Encantada Nursing & Rehab, Las Vegas
  • Village at Northrise - Morning Side, Las Cruces
  • Village at Northrise - Desert Willow II Memory care, Las Cruces
  • Village at Northrise - Desert Willow I Nursing, Las Cruces
  • Welbrook Senior Living, Las Cruces (Now called Las Cruces Post Acute and Rehabilitation Center of Cascadia)
  • Westwind House Assisted Living, Albuquerque
  • Wheatfields Senior Living, Clovis
  • White Sands Healthcare, Hobbs

Statewide cases

County totals are subject to change upon further investigation and determination of residency of individuals positive for COVID-19.

  • Bernalillo County: 130,854
  • Catron County: 374
  • Chaves County: 19,632
  • Cibola County: 6,013
  • Colfax County: 2,177
  • Curry County: 11,375
  • De Baca County: 516
  • Doña Ana County: 55,032
  • Eddy County: 15,590
  • Grant County: 5,673
  • Guadalupe County: 937
  • Harding County: 68
  • Hidalgo County: 951
  • Lea County: 18,245
  • Lincoln County: 4,688
  • Los Alamos County: 2,205
  • Luna County: 5,907
  • McKinley County: 22,904
  • Mora County: 628
  • Otero County: 11,686
  • Quay County: 1,858
  • Rio Arriba County: 8,705
  • Roosevelt County: 4,364
  • Sandoval County: 29,229
  • San Juan County: 35,676
  • San Miguel County: 4,936
  • Santa Fe County: 24,784
  • Sierra County: 1,804
  • Socorro County: 3,341
  • Taos County: 4,616
  • Torrance County: 2,398
  • Union County: 687
  • Valencia County: 16,391

Cases among people being held by federal agencies

  • Cibola County Correctional Center: 536
  • Otero County Federal Prison Facility: 603
  • Otero County Processing Center: 805
  • Torrance County Detention Facility: 385

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

  • Central New Mexico Correctional Facility in Valencia County: 409
  • Guadalupe County Correctional Facility: 259
  • Lea County Correctional Facility: 792
  • Northeast New Mexico Correctional Facility in Union County: 215
  • Northwest New Mexico Correctional Center in Cibola County: 141
  • Otero County Prison Facility: 573
  • Penitentiary of New Mexico in Santa Fe County: 254
  • Roswell Correctional Center: 236
  • Southern New Mexico Correctional Facility in Doña Ana County: 252
  • Springer Correctional Center in Colfax County: 271
  • Western New Mexico Correctional Facility in Cibola County: 87

*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.