With heightening concern for over-stretched hospitals in New Mexico, the health department as anticipated today issued two public health emergency orders intended to maximize medical resources by temporarily limiting non-essential procedures, and by activating the state's "crisis care" standards.
A public health order limiting non-essential surgeries covers Dec. 11 through Jan. 4, 2021, and applies only to procedures that can be delayed without risking a patient's health. The state's crisis care public health order details the steps necessary to credential and approve health care providers responding to the COVID-19 health care crisis.
At the same time, hospitals have begun preparing for receiving their shares of the initial 17,500 dosages of the Pfizer vaccine that may begin as early as next week. The state sent letters yesterday to the 37 hospitals that will be receiving doses, specifying requirements for its storage as well as recommendations for prioritizing those doses for healthcare personnel "whether paid or unpaid, serving in healthcare settings who have the potential for direct or indirect
exposure to patients or infectious materials."
Hospital leaders from Presbyterian Medical Services, University of New Mexico Health, Lovelace and Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center all confirmed earlier this week they have arranged for the storage requirements for the Pfizer (which requires -70 degree Celsius temperatures). The Federal Drug Administration is expected to approve the Pfizer vaccine in the coming days, and New Mexico could receive doses as early as Dec. 15.
In her weekly COVID-19 update today, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham described the coming vaccination as a “ huge bright spot in our fight against the pandemic,” but acknowledged “frankly…there are not going to be enough vaccines for any state to be able to provide vaccines to every New Mexican who needs them and every New Mexican who wants them right away. But it tells me with the vaccine distribution in the next three to six months we are really going to see dramatic improvements in the risks associated with COVID-19 and the ability to have more normalcy in our everyday lives.”
With vaccines not expected to penetrate the larger population for many months, both the governor and Human Services Secretary David Scrase emphasized the need for continued adherence to public health guidelines and ongoing testing to mitigate spread and impact on the state's hospitals.
In terms of cases, however, the state’s two-week reset appears to have helped lower both daily cases and the rate of spread. Nonetheless, Scrase noted the state is seeing a “tick back up,” which he said officials are watching closely.
"Two weeks doesn't really change the entire trajectory," Lujan Grisham noted. "This is not an invitation for people to go out more. It's a recognition that those solid public health practices work."
The governor—who mentioned during today’s address that she will be running for re-election in 2022— also noted she was encouraged that the state’s new county-level framework, in which counties test positivity rate and rolling case counts are re-assessed every other Wednesday, appear to be working. “E arly indications are several counties can get into the yellow by next week, which means they can open up a little more. It is an indication… These efforts work, it’s why we do them,” she said.
Today, New Mexico health officials reported 1,791 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the statewide total so far to 114,731. Of those, the health department has designated 41,177 as recovered.
Bernalillo County had 621 cases, followed by San Juan County with 180 and McKinley County with 142. Santa Fe County had 74 new cases and did not appear in the state's top top ZIP codes for new cases.
The state also announced 23 additional deaths, including a woman in her 90s from Santa Fe County; there have now been 1,846 fatalities.
As of today, 916 people are hospitalized with COVID-19, 159 on ventilators,* figures both the governor and Scrase highlighted as extreme. "This number is very frightening," Lujan Grisham said. "I don't want people to be frightened, but I want you to see this is a dramatic number."
Scrase noted that for the first in the pandemic, "we have hospitals that are over 50% [occupied with COVID-19 patients]. "We have intensive care units that are at 100%. We have hospital [intensive care units] that have every single person on ventilators." There are hospitals taking care of patients in hallways, he said, and outpatient clinics where operating rooms have been converted to ICUs.
The stress on the hospital system means, the governor said, as the holidays approach, New Mexicans need to avoid bringing households together to avoid another surge of cases. She encouraged to instead plan for next Christmas, or Christmas "in July" when perhaps the risks present now have diminished.
“We’ve shown, frankly, several times, that we can restrict the ability of the virus to spread. We need to just keep it up. And I know it’s hard and I know six months from now, when we’re saying Christmas in July…seems like a lifetime away. But…your sacrifices today save lives, protect healthcare workers, first responders, make sure that our new moms and New Mexicans through no fault of their own have a medical emergency, that’s an easy sacrifice. We can all do that.”
New cases
- 621 new cases in Bernalillo County
- 50 new cases in Chaves County
- 13 new cases in Cibola County
- 5 new cases in Colfax County
- 24 new cases in Curry County
- 109 new cases in Doña Ana County
- 75 new cases in Eddy County
- 9 new cases in Grant County
- 13 new cases in Guadalupe County
- 1 new case in Hidalgo County
- 66 new cases in Lea County
- 10 new cases in Lincoln County
- 5 new cases in Los Alamos County
- 18 new cases in Luna County
- 142 new cases in McKinley County
- 2 new cases in Mora County
- 25 new cases in Otero County
- 5 new cases in Quay County
- 64 new cases in Rio Arriba County
- 8 new cases in Roosevelt County
- 125 new cases in Sandoval County
- 180 new cases in San Juan County
- 11 new cases in San Miguel County
- 74 new cases in Santa Fe County
- 3 new cases in Sierra County
- 15 new cases in Socorro County
- 14 new cases in Taos County
- 1 new case in Torrance County
- 3 new cases in Union County
- 74 new cases in Valencia County
- 1 new case among individuals held by federal agencies at the Torrance County Detention Facility
- 6 new cases among New Mexico Corrections Department inmates at the Central New Mexico Correctional Facility in Valencia County
- 2 new cases among New Mexico Corrections Department inmates at the Guadalupe County Correctional Facility
- 1 new case among New Mexico Corrections Department inmates at the Lea County Correctional Facility
- 12 new cases among New Mexico Corrections Department inmates at the Northeast New Mexico Correctional Facility in Union County
- 4 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 70s from Bernalillo County who was hospitalized
- A male in his 50s from Bernalillo County who was hospitalized
- A male in his 60s from Bernalillo County who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions
- A male in his 70s from Bernalillo County who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions
- A male in his 80s from Bernalillo County who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions
- A female in her 50s from Chaves County who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions
- A female in her 70s from Chaves County who had underlying conditions
- A female in her 50s from Cibola County who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions
- A male in his 80s from Cibola County who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions
- A male in his 60s from Colfax County who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions
- A male in his 80s from Colfax County who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions
- A male in his 70s from Curry County who was hospitalized
- A female in her 40s from Doña Ana County who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions
- A male in his 70s from Doña Ana County who was hospitalized, had underlying conditions and was a resident of Good Samaritan Society Las Cruces facility
- A male in his 80s from Roosevelt County who was hospitalized
- A male in his 70s from San Juan County who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions
- A female in her 60s from Sandoval County who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions
- A female in her 90s from Santa Fe County
- A female in her 70s from Socorro County who was a resident of Good Samaritan Society Socorro facility
- A male in his 80s from Socorro County who was a resident of Good Samaritan Society Socorro facility
- A female in her 80s from Valencia County who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions
- A male in his 60s from Valencia County who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions
- A second male in his 60s from Valencia 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:
- Adobe Assisted Living in Las Cruces
- Advantage Assisted Living in Rio Rancho
- Albuquerque Grand Senior Living
- Albuquerque Heights Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center
- The Aldea House – Heaven Sent LLC in Albuquerque
- The Arbors of Del Rey in Las Cruces
- Artesia Healthcare and Rehabilitation
- The Aristocrat Assisted Living Community in Alamogordo
- The Aristocrat Assisted Living Community in Las Cruces
- Aspen Care Assisted Living in Albuquerque
- Atria Vista Del Rio in Albuquerque
- Avamere at Fiesta Park in Albuquerque
- Avamere at Rio Rancho
- Avamere at Roswell
- Aztec Healthcare in Aztec
- Bear Canyon Rehabilitation Center in Albuquerque
- BeeHive Homes Deming
- BeeHive Homes Farmington
- BeeHive Homes Gallup
- BeeHive Homes Roswell
- BeeHive Homes Portales
- BeeHive Homes San Pedro in Albuquerque
- BeeHive Homes Volcano Cliffs in Albuquerque
- Belen Meadows Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in Belen
- Blue Horizon Boutique Assisted Living & Memory Care in Las Cruces
- Brookdale Santa Fe
- Brookdale Tramway Ridge in Albuquerque
- Brookdale Valencia Albuquerque
- Buena Vista Senior Care in Albuquerque
- Calibre Sagecrest Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Las Cruces
- Camino Retirement Homes in Albuquerque
- Care Free Assisted Living in Albuquerque
- Casa Arena Blanca Nursing Center in Alamogordo
- Casa del Sol Center in Las Cruces
- Casa de Oro Center in Las Cruces
- Casa Palo Duro in Albuquerque
- Casa de Palomas in Albuquerque
- Casa de Paz in Rio Rancho
- Casa de Rosa in Albuquerque
- Casa Maria Health Care Center in Roswell
- Casa Mis Abuelos in Albuquerque
- Casa Real in Santa Fe
- Casa Sandia in Albuquerque
- Cedar Ridge Inn in Farmington
- Cielos Abiertos Assisted Living in Albuquerque
- Clayton Nursing and Rehabilitation
- Colfax Long Term Care Center in Springer
- Cuesta Manor in Albuquerque
- Desert Springs Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Hobbs
- El Castillo in Santa Fe
- 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 Lovington
- Good Life Senior Living in Artesia
- Good Life Senior Living in Carlsbad
- Good Life Senior Living in Hobbs
- Good Life Memory Care Los Lunas
- Good Samaritan Society – Manzano del Sol Village in Albuquerque
- Good Samaritan Society Grants
- Good Samaritan Society Las Cruces
- Good Samaritan Society Socorro
- Haciendas of Grace Village in Las Cruces
- Hannett House in Albuquerque
- Haven Care – Birch House in Albuquerque
- Haven Care – Cottonwood House in Albuquerque
- Haven Care – Fir House in Albuquerque
- Heartland Continuing Care Center in Portales
- Hilldale House in Albuquerque
- Ladera Center in Albuquerque
- Laguna Rainbow Care Center in Casa Blanca
- Lakeview Christian Home in Carlsbad
- Landmark at Desert Gardens in Hobbs
- Landsun Unit of Lakeview Christian Home in Carlsbad
- La Posada Assisted Living in Las Cruces
- Las Palomas Center in Albuquerque
- La Vida Llena Assisted Living in Albuquerque
- The Legacy at Santa Fe
- Life Spire Assisted Living Rio Rancho
- Life Spire Assisted Living Albuquerque
- Little Sisters of the Poor in Gallup
- Life Care Center in Farmington
- Lovington Healthcare in Lovington
- Kingston Residence of Santa Fe
- Mariah House in Albuquerque
- Mescalero Care Center in Mescalero
- Mimbres Memorial Nursing Home in Deming
- Mission Arch Center in Roswell
- The Montebello on Academy in Albuquerque
- The Montecito in Santa Fe
- MorningStar Assisted Living & Memory Care of Albuquerque
- MorningStar Assisted Living & Memory Care of Rio Rancho
- Mountain View Manor in Albuquerque
- The Neighborhood in Rio Rancho
- New Mexico State Veterans Home in Truth or Consequences
- North Ridge Care Center in Albuquerque
- Odelia Healthcare (Camino Healthcare) in Albuquerque
- Pacifica Senior Living in Santa Fe
- Palmilla Senior Living in Albuquerque
- Princeton Place in Albuquerque
- Pueblo of Isleta Assisted Living & Memory Care Facility
- Ravenna Assisted Living in Albuquerque
- Red Rocks Care Center in Gallup
- 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 Cottonwood Assisted Living in Albuquerque
- Senior Living Systems in Los Lunas
- Shady Pines Assisted Living in Albuquerque
- Sierra Healthcare Center in Truth or Consequences
- Sierra Vista Retirement Community in Santa Fe
- Silver City Care Center in Silver City
- Skies Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in Albuquerque
- Sombrillo Nursing and Rehabilitation in Los Alamos
- South Valley Care Center in Albuquerque
- Spanish Trails Rehabilitation Suites in Albuquerque
- St. Anthony’s Healthcare in Clovis
- Sundance Home in Gallup
- Sunny Day Assisted Living in Gallup
- Sunshine Assisted Living in Tucumcari
- The Suites at Rio Vista in Rio Rancho
- Sunset Villa Care Center in Roswell
- Taos Living Center
- Taos Retirement Village
- Tender Heart Assisted Living in Albuquerque
- Tercer Cielo Assisted Living in Albuquerque
- Uptown Rehabilitation Center in Albuquerque
- Vida Encantada Nursing and Rehabilitation in Las Vegas
- The Village at Northrise in Las Cruces
- Village Retirement Community in Roswell
- Vista Hermosa in Santa Fe
- Vista Sandia Assisted Living in Albuquerque
- The Watermark at Cherry Hills in Albuquerque
- Welbrook Senior Living Las Cruces
- West Ridge Village in Albuquerque
- Wheatfields Senior Living Community in Clovis
- White Sands Healthcare in Hobbs
- Willow Wood Assisted Living in Albuquerque
Statewide cases
According to a state news release, previously reported numbers included nine cases that have been identified as duplicates (two in Bernalillo County, one in Curry County, one in Doña Ana County, one in Eddy County, one in McKinley County, one in Roosevelt County, one in San Juan County and one in Santa Fe County) and one case that was not lab confirmed in Bernalillo County—these have now been corrected. One case previously reported in Colfax County has been determined to be among New Mexico Corrections Department inmates at the Northeast New Mexico Correctional Facility and is now reported as such. Two cases previously reported in Santa Fe County have been determined to be among state inmates at the Penitentiary of New Mexico in Santa Fe County. County totals are subject to change upon further investigation and determination of residency of individuals positive for COVID-19.
- Bernalillo County: 32,581
- Catron County: 51
- Chaves County: 5,587
- Cibola County: 1,854
- Colfax County: 355
- Curry County: 3,517
- De Baca County: 69
- Doña Ana County: 15,106
- Eddy County: 3,466
- Grant County: 599
- Guadalupe County: 199
- Harding County: 7
- Hidalgo County: 205
- Lea County: 5,097
- Lincoln County: 907
- Los Alamos County: 194
- Luna County: 2,118
- McKinley County: 8,128
- Mora County: 62
- Otero County: 1,768
- Quay County: 292
- Rio Arriba County: 1,678
- Roosevelt County: 1,135
- Sandoval County: 6,321
- San Juan County: 7,390
- San Miguel County: 549
- Santa Fe County: 6,108
- Sierra County: 433
- Socorro County: 744
- Taos County: 965
- Torrance County: 389
- Union County: 155
- Valencia County: 3,791
Cases among people being held by federal agencies
- Cibola County Correctional Center: 417
- Otero County Prison Facility: 430
- Otero County Processing Center: 194
- 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: 235
- Guadalupe County Correctional Facility: 118
- Lea County Correctional Facility: 155
- Northeast New Mexico Correctional Facility in Union County: 148
- Northwest New Mexico Correctional Center in Cibola County: 95
- Otero County Prison Facility: 471
- Penitentiary of New Mexico in Santa Fe County: 133
- Roswell Correctional Center: 225
- Southern New Mexico Correctional Facility in Doña Ana County: 181
- Springer Correctional Center in Colfax County: 58
- Western New Mexico Correctional Facility in Cibola County: 4
*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.
