COVID-19 health orders renewed

SANTA FE — Citing a continued prevalence of high case numbers, the New Mexico Department of Health renewed public health orders related to COVID-19, including an indoor facemask requirement and vaccination requirements for various types of workers.

The renewed orders, issued Friday, will be in effect until Feb. 4.

The public health orders have also been update to reflect a Wednesday change to implement new federal guidance surrounding isolation an quarantine for COVID-19.

On Dec. 27, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reduced its recommended COVID guidelines for isolation (when you are sick or infected with COVID) and quarantine (following exposure) from ten days to five days, along with other critical guidance.

The state continues to ask New Mexicans to get vaccinated, noting that the majority of cases, hospitalizations and deaths are among the unvaccinated. ew Mexicans can sign up for vaccine appointments at vaccineNM.org, vaccineNM.org/kids, or vaccine.gov, or through their personal personal medical provider or pharmacist.

Friday report: The DOH confirmed 4,246 new cases of COVID-19 and 14 deaths, along with a 23.2% seven-day test positivity rate. That rate is up from the Monday total of 17.9%. The DOH has not issued a Friday COVID-19 report since Dec. 17 due to holidays, instead opting to consolidate Dec. 24 and Dec. 31 reports on the following Monday.

The deaths included a Curry County female in her 40s who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions.

Between Tuesday and Friday, Curry reported three COVID-19 deaths and Roosevelt County two. Curry County’s other two COVID-19 deaths were both reported Thursday — a male in his 60s who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions and a female in her 80s with underlying conditions.

Roosevelt County’s reported deaths were a Tuesday report of a female in her 80s who was hospitalized and a man in his 80s who was hospitalized with underlying conditions. His death was reported Wednesday, but the death occurred more than 30 days ago. The DOH relies on death certificate information to confirm deaths related to COVID-19.

The state has confirmed 5,866 deaths since March 2020, including 138 in Curry County and 83 in Roosevelt County.

Between Tuesday and Friday, Curry County confirmed 254 new cases of COVID-19 and Roosevelt County 167.