The public health order issued by the New Mexico Department of Health-related to COVID-19 expired Monday, May 16. That order mandated mask-wearing in hospitals, schools and other public facilities, such as nursing homes.

DOH reports that COVID-19 cases have dropped since March and hospitalizations continue to be low. Currently, 50 New Mexicans are hospitalized with the virus.

The latest data released by the Center for Disease Control showed that the number of new COVID-19 cases in Socorro County for the seven-day period ending May 15  was 17.

As of Monday, there have been a total of 3,819 COVID-19 cases reported in Socorro County since the pandemic began, with 3,695 recovering to date.

There was one new hospital admission reported in Socorro County in the seven-day period ending May 13 and no new deaths.

In Socorro, 89 people have died from the novel coronavirus.

There were 245 tests conducted in the county in the seven days ending May 8. Socorro County’s seven-day positivity rate stood at 11.21 percent through May 12.

According to the CDC website, 11,491 people in Socorro County are fully vaccinated, which is 69.1 percent of the county’s population. 51.7 percent have received a booster.

In the 65-and-older age group, 83.6 percent have completed the two-dose series, and 71.2 percent have received a booster.

Statewide, the total number of cases since the pandemic began is 526,137

New Mexico’s death toll since the pandemic began has reached 7,607.

As COVID-19 is still with us, DOH encourages everyone 5 years and older to stay up-to-date on their vaccines and boosters.

Appointments for vaccinations can be scheduled with Socorro General Hospital, Walmart, the health department, and through your doctor’s office. Appointments can be scheduled online at vaccineNM.org, vaccineNM.org/kids, or vaccine.gov or by calling 1-855-600-3453.

DOH recommends that people over the age of 50 who received an initial booster dose at least four months ago receive a second mRNA booster – Pfizer or Moderna – to increase their protection against severe disease from COVID-19. That’s a total of four doses.

DOH also recommends people 12 and older with certain immune deficiencies receive a second booster dose of an mRNA vaccine at least four months after their first booster dose.

In addition, DOH recommends a second booster dose using an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine for adults who received a primary vaccine and booster dose of Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 vaccine at least four months ago.

Individuals who have had COVID-19 are advised to stay up-to-date with the recommended doses of COVID-19 vaccine. Unvaccinated individuals or vaccinated individuals with breakthrough cases recovering from COVID-19 are eligible for vaccine after their isolation period of 10 days is over and their symptoms have resolved.

John Larson, El Defensor Chieftain