A public health order issued by the New Mexico Department of Health renewed the existing public health orders related to COVID-19. The renewal has been extended through May 16, 2022.

This means:

  • All individuals ages two years and older shall wear a mask or multilayer cloth face-covering in all public hospitals, profit or nonprofit private hospitals, general hospitals, special hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, adult daycares, hospice facilities, rehabilitation facilities, state correctional facilities, juvenile justice facilities, residential treatment centers, the New Mexico State Veterans’ Home, and community homes except when eating or drinking.
  • Any business, establishment, or non-profit that members of the public regularly visit must report to the New Mexico Environment Department when there is an occurrence of a rapid response.
  • All businesses, establishments, and non-profit entities must adhere to the pertinent COVID-Safe Practices.
  • Public and private educational institutions serving children and young adults from pre-Kindergarten through 12th Grade, including homeschools serving children who are not household members, shall continue to adhere to the face-covering requirements contained in PED’s “COVID-19 Response Toolkit for New Mexico’s Public Schools.”

DOH reports that COVID-19 cases have dropped since March and hospitalizations continue to be low.

In Socorro County, the positivity rate is one percent.

However, DOH says the most recent two-week data shows the new Omicron BA.2 variant makes up 22.1 percent of cases in New Mexico and continues to expand across the state, trailing behind the rest of the country.

COVID-19 booster shots are recommended.
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As the vast majority of COVID-19-related hospitalizations and deaths occur among the small number of unvaccinated New Mexicans, 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.

“Vaccines and boosters are both safe and free. The data clearly demonstrates that COVID-19 vaccine and booster doses protect individuals from both infection and severe outcomes,” Scrase said. “Anyone eligible should seriously consider getting an additional mRNA booster to further increase their protection. This is especially important for those 65 and older and those 50 and older with underlying medical conditions that increase their risk for severe disease from COVID-19 as they are the most likely to benefit from receiving an additional booster dose at this time.”

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.