Omicron

At a news conference Thursday, Acting New Mexico Health Secretary Dr. David Scrase said he keeps track of how long COVID has been around in his journal, and that this week New Mexico hit day 1,000 as challenges persist. Cases are up, PCR testing is becoming less accessible and indoor masking is recommended in several counties.

Three New Mexico counties – McKinley, Valencia and San Juan – have high community levels of COVID-19. That’s according to the latest CDC data accounting for hospitalization and case rates. But in terms of just the spread of the virus, all but one of New Mexico’s counties are bright red on the CDC map, showing the highest levels of transmission. KUNM’s Jered Ebenreck has this report. And the state’s surveillance tools for tracking the virus appear to be contracting or stalled.

According to the latest CDC data accounting for hospitalization and case rates, four New Mexico counties, including Bernalillo and Sandoval, have high community levels of COVID-19. But in terms of just the spread of the virus, 21 counties show the highest levels of transmission. As hospitals fill with sick children and adults from various respiratory viruses, state health officials cautioned people to use masks and get the latest Omicron booster.

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.

For the first time in months, the CDC’s COVID-19 Community Level map shows not a single county in New Mexico is red, which would indicate high levels. That means fewer people are being hospitalized due to the virus.But the same updated data from the CDC continues to show that the transmission rates of COVID remain high, with the map turning very red. Fortunately, New Mexicans can now access boosters that target the Omicron variants of the virus.

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Discussion of "mild" Omicron as a definition, clinically and individually.

UNM this week told students and employees at all campuses to up their mask game for the start of the Spring semester because of spiking infection numbers and the spread of the highly contagious omicron variant of COVID-19. The two-ply cloth masks that had become the norm are proving insufficient to protect from omicron.

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The omicron variant of COVID-19 has been confirmed in 10 states as of Friday, Dec. 3, including our neighbors in Colorado and Utah. While the variant is causing concern, New Mexico hospital officials earlier this week urged the public to not panic, but remain vigilant.