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COVID-19 by the numbers
New Mexico health officials yesterday reported 132 new COVID-19 cases—close to a 60% increase from the day prior—bringing the statewide total so far to 206,128; the health department has designated 195,263 of those cases as recovered. Bernalillo County had 46 new cases, followed by McKinley County with 11 and San Juan County with 10. Santa Fe County had nine.
The state also announced six additional deaths, four of which were recent and two from more than 30 days ago (COVID-19 deaths are not reported as such until death certificates have been issued, and some have been delayed due to insufficient information). The fatalities included the 152nd for Santa Fe County: a man in his 80s who had been hospitalized and had underlying conditions. As of yesterday, 67 people were hospitalized with COVID-19.
Currently, 71.4% New Mexicans 18 years and older have had at least one COVID-19 vaccine and 63.3% are fully vaccinated. In Santa Fe County, 81.8% have had at least one dose and 73% have been fully vaccinated.
Yesterday, DOH announced a reporting change for its vaccine dashboard, which previously reported vaccine data for New Mexicans 16 years and older, but is now reporting data for residents aged 12 through 17 separately. “At the time we announced our goal of 60% vaccinated, only New Mexicans 16+ were eligible,” DOH Secretary Dr. Tracie Collins said in a statement. “After meeting that goal, we’ve decided to modify our reporting to 18+ so as to align with White House and CDC reporting standards.” Among that age group statewide, 42.6% have had at least one shot and 33.5% are fully vaccinated.
You can read all of SFR’s COVID-19 coverage here. If you’ve had experiences with COVID-19, we would like to hear from you.
State proposes higher cannabis production limits
New Mexico will likely need to produce close to 300,000 total cannabis plants annually to meet adult demand, according to a report from the Massachusetts-based Cannabis Public Policy, which prepared the analysis for the state’s new Cannabis Control Division. Using a variety of methods to determine use, the report’s figures amount to 1,533 to 2,231 plants per harvesting cycle. As such, the division raised the proposed number of mature plants producers can grow from a maximum of 4,500 mature plants to a maximum of 8,000. The division is taking comments on those proposed rules through Aug. 6, at which point it will hold a public hearing. The revised rules also would levy large-scale producers with the same-per-plant fees as smaller producers, whereas the former faced higher fees under a previous proposal. Several producers tell the Albuquerque Journal the new proposed limits are more reasonable. “With that number of plants, there’s a lot more variety in how you can cultivate,” PurLife Sales Director Indy White said.
Virgin Galactic blasts off Sunday
Pending weather and technical issues, Virgin Galactic will launch its first fully crewed spaceflight this weekend. In partnership with the state of New Mexico, “Unity 22” will carry Virgin Galactic founder Sir Richard Branson to evaluate the customer spaceflight experience, such as the cabin environment, seat comfort, the “weightless experience” and the views of Earth. The flight will be the 22nd for VSS Unity, the company’s fourth crewed spaceflight and the first to carry a full crew of two pilots and four mission specialists in the cabin. “I truly believe that space belongs to all of us,” Branson said in a statement announcing the launch. “After more than 16 years of research, engineering and testing, Virgin Galactic stands at the vanguard of a new commercial space industry, which is set to open space to humankind and change the world for good. It’s one thing to have a dream of making space more accessible to all; it’s another for an incredible team to collectively turn that dream into reality.” Branson also said upon the crew’s return, he will announce “something very exciting to give more people a chance to become astronauts.” The livestream will be available to watch on Virgin Galactic.com and will be simulcast on the Virgin Galactic Twitter, YouTube and Facebook channels, and is expected to begin at 7 am MST, July 11. Branson’s flight will precede Jeff Bezos’ planned trip to space from West Texas nine days later, prompting the coined billionaire blastoffs.
Police: Local crimes growing more violent
Area law enforcement representatives say crime in Santa Fe is becoming increasingly violent, perhaps accounting for the unprecedented number of police shootings—four—in the last two weeks. Speaking to the Santa Fe New Mexican, County Sheriff Adan Mendoza said the two incidents involving his agency were especially “volatile,” and he expressed disappointment that the State Police, which is investigating the fatal shooting earlier this week in Tesuque, has yet to reveal the subsequent death of a woman who had been severely injured by someone at the home that morning. First Judicial District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies told the Albuquerque Journal earlier this week that both “gun violence and domestic violence” appeared “to have been involved in a number of these cases.” Santa Fe Police Deputy Chief Paul Joye says both aggravated assaults and batteries have risen nearly 25% since 2019. “We’re seeing more harm done,” Joye told the New Mexican. “Whereas before it was a punch in the face, now he’s got a tool or a gun.”
Listen up
The Santa Fe Opera opens Saturday night with The Marriage of Figaro, and this year includes a “drive-in” simulcast option. In preparation for the season, be sure to check out the Destination Santa Fe Opera podcast, which includes interviews with soprano Vanessa Vasquez (Countess Almaviva in Figaro) and countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo (Dionysus in The Lord of Cries), to name a few. The opera’s YouTube channel also includes a variety of pre-show content, including its “Consider the Source” series that examines some of the literary source materials behind the 2021 season.
More sounds of summer
If you haven’t yet ventured out for your first Santa Fe summer experience, this weekend provides ample options. Tonight, SFR’s weekly Picks recommends M I N T: A Summer Collaboration of Dance at 7:30 pm tonight at the Center for Contemporary Arts or perhaps Rumelia Collective at 7 pm tonight at Rose’s Kitchen (Reunity Resources). You’ll find La Emi Summer Flamenco Series at 8 pm Saturday and Sunday at The Lodge and the first of several performances by Felecia Ford and Mega Muse from her new album at 6 pm on Sunday at Frogville Records. Culture Editor Alex De Vore sat down with Ford to discuss her first album in seven years, which she finished right before moving to Mexico. Catch her while she’s back! And those four events barely scratch the surface of this weekend’s happenings (it’s the first of two weekends to catch the return of the International Folk Art Market, for example): Be sure to check out SFR’s online calendar to plan your next move.
Sprinkles optional
Color us skeptical with the Chicago Tribune’s roundup of the most popular ice-cream treats in every state. We were too overheated to search out and interrogate this particular survey’s methodology, but find it hard to believe that New Mexicans “are all about the Firecracker” when it comes to the ice-cream truck’s offerings. Is that even ice cream? It kinda looks like a popsicle. At any rate, we are more sanguine regarding Edible New Mexico’s guide to ice-cream across the state, which includes a recommendation for Santa Fe establishments Freezie Fresh’s salted caramel red chile and La Lecheria’s Red chile rhubarb (yes, like the Firecracker, these flavors both have a “red” association but also are actually ice cream). Mesilla NM Vintage Market’s green mint chip and pecan pie may prompt a road trip in the very near future.
Take cover
Today will be mostly sunny with a high near 96 degrees for some wretched reason. According to the National Weather Service, Santa Fe has a 20% percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Tomorrow: ditto. Sunday, fortunately, temps are supposed to drop approximately 10 degrees and the chances for some precipitation rise to 50%.Thanks for reading! The Word finds NPR’s Joy Generator more distracting than joy-inducing but, hey, we take what we can get.
