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COVID-19 by the numbers
New Mexico health officials yesterday reported 3,039 new COVID-19 cases for the four-day period of Dec. 24-27, bringing the statewide total so far to 345,663. DOH has designated 300,819 of those cases as recovered. Bernalillo County had 960 new cases, followed by Doña Ana County with 277 and Santa Fe County again had the third highest number of cases in the state: 248 of them. In addition, Santa Fe’s 87507 ranked eighth in the state for the most new cases: 74 of them. The seven-day statewide test positivity rate increased to 10%; the state’s target rate is 7.5%.
The state also announced 29 new deaths,17 of them recent, including Santa Fe County’s 196th death: a male in his 50s who had been hospitalized and had underlying conditions. There have now been 5,774 total fatalities statewide. As of yesterday, 456 people were hospitalized with COVID-19—90 fewer than last Thursday.
According to the most recent DOH vaccination case report, over the last four weeks, 70.6% of COVID-19 cases have been among those who are not vaccinated, as have 82% of hospitalizations and 87.4% of deaths.
Currently, 88.6% of New Mexicans 18 years and older have had at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and 75.7% are fully vaccinated. Among that demographic, 33.9% have had a booster shot. In the 12-17-year-old age group, 66.5% of people have had at least one dose and 57% are fully inoculated. Among children ages 5-11, 26.6% have had at least one dose of the Pfizer vaccine and 15.4% are fully vaccinated. In Santa Fe County, 99% of people 18 and older have had at least one dose and 85.5% are fully vaccinated.
DOH announced yesterday it will not be reporting daily cases, deaths and hospitalizations again until Thursday, Dec. 30, due to an abbreviated schedule “in observance of Winter break.”
Also yesterday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended halving isolation and quarantine periods in certain cases. For asymptomatic people with COVID-19, the CDC recommended reducing isolation from 10 to five days, followed by five days of wearing a mask when around others. The CDC updated its quarantine recommendations for people exposed to COVID-19: People who are unvaccinated or more than six months past two Pfizer or Moderna shots or two months past a J & J shot should quarantine for five days and wear a mask for five days after that, the CDC said. Those who have received boosters and been exposed to COVID-19 do not need to quarantine, but should wear a mask for 10 days. A best practice, the guidelines say, would include testing five days after exposure for both groups.A statement from CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky says the new guidelines “balance what we know about the spread of the virus and the protection provided by vaccination and booster doses. These updates ensure people can safely continue their daily lives.” The decision has sparked both opprobrium and praise, with some scientists saying the CDC should have tied its isolation guidance to testing requirements and vaccine status. The guidelines follow both a request to the CDC from many airlines to reduce the quarantine requirements and a holiday weekend with thousands of canceled flights. New Mexico’s health department had not issued any response to the new orders by press time.
New Mexicans can register for a COVID-19 vaccine here, schedule a COVID-19 vaccine booster here and view a public calendar for vaccine availability here. Parents can add dependents to their vaccine profiles here. You can read all of SFR’s COVID-19 coverage here.
Luján criticizes dissolution of NM land grant committee
US Sen. Ben Ray Luján, D-NM, says he is “deeply disappointed” the state Legislature has dissolved its New Mexico Local Government, Land Grants & Cultural Affairs Committee. “The representation of land grants, acequias, traditional, and rural communities must always be at the forefront of New Mexico public policy,” Luján, said in a statement. “They are a critical part of the heart, soul, and history of our state. These communities also represent the economic potential that our future holds, but only if we keep them as a top priority.” Luján’s late father, House Speaker Ben Luján, first created the interim committee to work on land grant issues. Current House Speaker Brian Egolf, D-Santa Fe, made it a standing committee in 2017 and, in mid-December, said the “duties and jurisdictional areas” of the committee would be assigned to other House committees when next year’s session starts in January. Following Luján’s statement, Egolf and fellow Democrats House Majority Leader Javier Martínez of Albuquerque, Majority Whip Doreen Gallegos, Las Cruces, and Church Rock Caucus Chair D. Wonda Johnson issued a response acknowledging that “the importance and contributions of our state’s land grants and acequia communities goes back through the history of our state and reflect many of our cherished values and proud traditions.” Elevating the “needs and visibility of these groups,” the statement said, wasn’t being accomplished by the committee “in its current form.” According to the Associated Press, both Luján and US Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández, D-NM, have met with Egolf and said he plans to meet with leaders from land grant and acequia communities to consider the best path forward.
Old motel could provide new housing
By the end of next year, the Lamplighter Motel on Cerrillos Road could be sold and converted to provide 58 rental units for affordable housing candidates and special needs tenants, including unhoused people. Funding for the $10 million property comes from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development via the state of New Mexico, local nonprofit Anchorum St. Vincent and Santa Fe County. The County Commission voted to approve $1.5 million last week, with the City of Santa Fe potentially chipping in approximately $3 million from the Affordable Housing Trust Fund and American Rescue Plan funds; a City Council vote is expected in January. Once converted, the facility would include a mix of studios and one-bedrooms, 25% of which would accommodate special needs tenants, a category that includes people who are experiencing homelessness or are at risk. “It can’t be someone who needs 24-hour care, but it’ll be people who may need help with rent and may need a counselor every once in a while,” Jeff Curry, director of development at JL Gray, which specializes in development and management of affordable houses. “The goal is that this is going to provide them housing where they otherwise might be homeless.”
NM ranks high in gun deaths
ICYMI, the state health department last week reported 481 New Mexico residents died last from firearm-related injuries, a slight increase from 472 individuals in 2019. The death rate, however, is 55% higher than in 2010. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also reported New Mexico’s rate of firearm-related deaths across all ages, including children, placed the state fourth in the nation in 2019, the latest year for which a ranking is available. According to a news release, DOH is collaborating with the CDC to improve firearm injury reporting and to better disseminate surveillance findings to prevent or respond to firearm injuries. The health department also says it is uniting with partners and community health councils to distribute gun locks and provide education about the importance of securing stored firearms when they are not in use. “We know that firearms are responsible for the majority of both homicides and suicides in the state, and we are committed to finding solutions which work for all New Mexicans in order to stop these preventable deaths,” Acting DOH Secretary David Scrase said in a statement. DOH also is working on gun violence mitigation efforts through its suicide prevention program, as guns were used in 58% of suicides last year. Learn more about gun violence prevention efforts in the state here.
Listen up
In her Well Woman Life podcast, host Giovanna Rossi focuses on interviews with “high achieving, professional women who have overcome anxiety, burnout and insecurity to become healthy, fulfilled and powerful.” For her latest episode, Rossi—a former executive director of the New Mexico Women’s Health Office—rounds up the top ten daily habits from the “Well Woman Community,” which include tips on recognizing the difference between daily routines and morning routines; how meditative activities can be a part of one’s daily life; and which types of connections brings you the most benefit.
Indigenous tourism
Travel + Leisure magazine profiles three Indigenous entrepreneurs from the Pueblo of Zuni, noting that while tourism to the pueblo has historically been low, leaders saw both economic potential in luring more visitors, as well as an opportunity for education about the pueblo’s culture and history. To that end, Kenny Bowekaty developed new programming at the Zuni Visitor Center, such as a Zuni-led walking tours of the pueblo’s Middle Village; trips to the ruins at Hawikku and the Village of the Great Kivas; and meals catered by local women. “This work allowed me to see how deep our history is,” he tells the magazine, “and to create an infrastructure that not only helps bring people here but also supports our artists and businesses.” Celia Tsabetsaye returned to the pueblo when she retired from the Bureau of Indian Affairs in Washington, DC; she converted her 19th-century family home into a restaurant, the Village Bistro, where she provides cooking demonstrations and seasonal lunch menus with Zuni staples. When the pandemic brought lockdowns, Ava Hannaweeke shifted her catering business to create Ava’s Bread Experience, in which she and her family collect wood to fire up the horno and make the Zuni bread hebogo mula.
Speaking of travel...
Santa Fe’s popularity seems unlikely to wane for visitors in the coming year. Town and Country magazine includes our fair city in a roundup of the 17 best places to visit in 2022, describing Santa Fe as “one of the most unique cities in the US,” with “rich Native American history, strong Spanish influences, and a vibrant arts scene.” True enough. The magazine recommends a trip to Ghost Ranch, a stay at Bishop’s Lodge and an amble down Canyon Road. For less predictable vacation plans, TravelAwaits—a magazine for travel for the over 50 set—lists Tucumcari as #14 in its list of “14 Charming Small Towns To Visit In 2022.” The town, TravelAwaits notes, “feels like a ghost town,” but isn’t, sports colorful murals highlighting the town’s history and hosts the New Mexico Route 66 Museum, where one can gander at a large collection of Route 66′s history. Plus you can look at fossils at Mesalands Community College’s Dinosaur Museum and Natural Sciences Laboratory and find lots of good grub from Tucumcari’s reportedly numerous diners and drive-ins.
Better late than never
When the sun rises today, we may see some snow. So says the National Weather Service, which forecasts a 30% chance for isolated snow showers before 8 am, followed by scattered snow showers after 11 am. Otherwise, it will be partly sunny, with a high near 40 degrees and breezy, with a west wind 15 to 25 mph. The odds for snow increase to 70% tonight after 11 pm and continue into Wednesday.
Thanks for reading! The Word was unsurprised to learn New Mexico ranked first among states whose residents googled the phrase “is Santa real” most often this year.
