Monkeypox

CDC Community Transmission Map, used by health care workers, like Acting Secretary Dr. David Scrase at New Mexico Department of Health, to advise at-risk patients (Left), is the CDC metric of risk, determined by transmission and test positivity rates. It was used by NMDOH and CDC to advise localities before February 25, 2022. The COVID Community Levels Map (Right) is the current metric that combines transmission with hospitalization data like COVID19 admissions and ICU use. Current CDC/NMDOH guidance to the general public is determined by the metric on the right. Both metrics are still available via the CDC COVID-19 Data Tracker--these are for New Mexico from October 6, 2022, reflecting reported data from 9/28-10/6/22. These maps are reflective of the previous week, not projections

State health officials promote Omicron boosters during COVID briefing

Jered Ebenreck

State health officials Thursday rolled out a new website for the COVID omicron booster shot and gave an update on other public health risks in the state. The CDC also announced a change from daily to weekly COVID case and death reports starting October 20.

Red or Green? CDC Community Transmission Map, used by Health Care Workers, like Acting Secretary Dr. David Scrase at NMDOH, to advise at-risk patients, LEFT, (the CDC metric of risk, determined by transmission and test positivity rates, used by NMDOH and CDC to advise localities before February 25, 2022) vs. COVID Community Levels Map, RIGHT, (the current metric that triangulates transmission with hospitalization data like COVID19 admissions and ICU use). Current CDC/NMDOH guidance to the general public is determined by the metric on the right. Both metrics are still available via the CDC COVID-19 Data Tracker--these are for New Mexico from September 22, 2022, reflecting reported data from 9/14-9/21/22. These maps are reflective of the previous week, not projections

Local News

President declares pandemic over as transmission in NM remains high

Jered Ebenreck

Last week President Joe Biden said the pandemic had ended. Yet the federal public health emergency order is good until mid-October and will likely be extended into January. For two weeks in a row all 33 New Mexico counties are pastel green on the CDC COVID Community Levels map showing low hospitalization rates from the virus across the state. Yet, only two counties, Harding and Hidalgo actually have low COVID transmission rates.

This ... is not that: CDC Community Transmission Map, used by Health Care Workers, like Acting Secretary Dr. David Scrase at NMDOH, to advise at-risk patients, LEFT, (the CDC metric of risk, determined by transmission and test positivity rates, used by NMDOH and CDC to advise localities before February 25, 2022) vs. COVID Community Levels Map, RIGHT, (the current metric that triangulates transmission with hospitalization data like COVID19 admissions and ICU use). Current CDC/NMDOH guidance to the general public is determined by the metric on the right. Both metrics are still available via the CDC COVID-19 Data Tracker--these are for Bernalillo County from September 15, 2022, reflecting reported data from 9/6-9/13/22. These maps are reflective of the previous week, not projections

Local News

CDC maps show high COVID transmission, but low hospitalizations, as officials provide update on four viruses

Jered Ebenreck

On the latest CDC COVID maps, all 33 New Mexico counties show low COVID Community levels, indicating further declines in hospitalizations statewide. Yet, COVID is still widespread with 23 counties showing high transmission. The state reported 12 deaths Thursday as health officials gave an update on the state's response to four viruses: COVID-19, Monkeypox, West Nile, and Polio.

Dr. Laura Parajón, NMDOH Deputy Secretary of Health, Acting State Epidemiologist during the 8/4/22 NMDOH Briefing on COVID-19 and Monkeypox

Local News

Department of Health says COVID cases remain high and monkeypox is a public health emergency

Jered Ebenreck

State health officials on August 4, 2022 said Monkeypox is a new public health emergency and that COVID cases remain high in a third of New Mexico counties thanks to the highly transmissible BA.5 variant. However the growth in case numbers has plateaued. Acting Health Secretary Dr. David Scrase and Deputy Health Secretary Dr. Laura Parajon both spoke about the diseases.

Albuquerque police officers used tear gas, flash bangs, and non-lethal rounds on protesters on Monday, June 15, 2020.

KUNM News Update

FRI: Report shows APD way behind in investigating ‘use of force,' + More

KUNM News

As advocates in the city continue to call for justice after a SWAT standoff last week resulted in a boy’s death, the Albuquerque Police Department is facing a huge backlog of investigations into officers using force and violence, according to a federal monitor overseeing police reform.

Local News

Health department says first likely case of monkeypox has arrived in NM

Nash Jones

The New Mexico Department of Health announced today that the first "probable case" of monkeypox has cropped up in the state. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are reportedly conducting a second round of testing to confirm. DOH says the individual was likely exposed during out-of-state travel and is isolating at home.