CIBOLA COUNTY, N.M. – New Mexico is nearing victory over the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic. After more than a year of tragedy, and suffering across the globe, in the Land of Enchantment that tested New Mexican resolve, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham announced on April 28 that New Mexico is nearing victory over the disease which has plagued the state.
Because of New Mexico’s vaccine distribution efforts, which have shattered expectations and is leading the nation in the number of vaccinated residents, a new system was introduced on April 30 to allow the state to monitor the pandemic instead of actively combatting it.
Cibola County is aiding the state in its pursuit of herd immunity from COVID-19. As of April 30, this county was one of only eight where most of the population has been vaccinated against the virus, according to the New Mexico Department of Health.
New data for county levels
For right now the Red, Yellow, Green, and Turquoise levels remain in effect; there is a plan to remove these levels once New Mexico has reached a 60 percent vaccination rate. The current color-coded map is set to show the restrictions in each county and their present COVID-19 transmission danger level, descending in danger from Red.
Utilizing the new data levels, the qualifications for each color level are becoming more relaxed.
Under previous rules, counties needed to have fewer than eight new cases per day, per population of 100,000 citizens; the loosened restrictions change that metric to fewer than 10 cases per day, per 100,000 citizens. Cibola is already at 7.2 cases per day, per 100,000 citizens.
Previous data wanted counties to have a test positivity rate of-or-less-than five percent, but new rules want counties to have a test positivity rate of-or-less-than 7.5 percent. Cibola was at a test positivity rate of 1.55 percent as of May 4.
These data changes come because of the state’s ambitious and successful vaccination goals.
“Our intention here is and has always been to ensure the colorcoding of the map – and the associated requirements for each county – continue to match the actual risk level on the ground in each county,” N.M. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. David Scrase said, “As our models show, test positivity is likely to become more elastic over time, and as [a result] fewer New Mexicans will require COVID-19 testing amid increasing vaccinations, we want to provide counties the assurance that they can continue to progress in accordance with the actual risk they face.”
This means that the state expects cases to slow and begin to even out as more people become vaccinated.
Old data versus new
Prior to the new data system, on April 28, only Colfax was a Red county because their COVID-19 levels were considered dangerous. There were 16 Yellow counties, three Green counties, and 13 Turquoise counties, including Cibola and its northern neighbor, McKinley County.
Because of the state’s quick moving vaccine efforts, the new goals shifted this data to bring every county in the state out of the Red zone.
With the new data, four counties were in the Yellow level, which indicated an elevated risk of transmission in those counties. Two of those flank Cibola; they are Catron and Valencia counties. There are now six counties under the Green level, which indicates a less-dangerous risk of transmission. Two border Cibola - Sandoval, and Bernalillo Counties.
New, ambitious goals
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham said that New Mexicans have shown they can achieve ambitious goals in the pursuit to return to normal life while protecting each other, to hasten the return to a safe and normal life.
Gov. Lujan Grisham predicted that the state is looking to fully reopen in June.
“I believe that New Mexico, by sometime in June, will have fully vaccinated enough of our state that we can shed these restrictions and frameworks and instead move closer to a simpler new phase, from fighting to ultimately monitoring the pandemic,” she said.
When 60 percent of New Mexicans have been fully vaccinated – having received both shots (or one, if receiving the Johnson & Johnson Janssen vaccine) – the state will remove the color-coded map and allow the state to fully reopen.
The mask requirement will remain in place while inside of buildings, and the state is advising New Mexicans to remain vigilant when part of outside groups, but the bulk of restrictions across the state will be lifted.
“Where businesses and commercial and community activity can safely occur at the same open level all across the state. We are close and getting closer. But that all depends on New Mexicans continuing to get their shots when it’s their turn, so please register at vaccineNM.org and help us keep up the pace!” Gov. Lujan Grisham said.
Get vaccinated
To help New Mexico reopen fully, people need to get vaccinated.
Visit vaccineNM.org and follow the onscreen prompts to sign up.
Select pharmacies across Cibola are giving the shot; the NM Department of Health, in coordination with the Cibola County Emergency Manager’s Office, is giving vaccinations at the old National Guard armory on Clif Lear Avenue, near the senior citizens center.
“New Mexicans should continue to get vaccinated at the very first opportunity,” NM Department of Health Secretary Dr. Tracie Collins said. “Not only will it hasten the end of the worst of the pandemic, but it will also en hance counties’ and communities’ ability to safely begin more and more commercial and day-to-day activities without endangering public health.”
Updated mask guidance
As more and more Americans become vaccinated, liberation from masks is growing. Masks remain mandatory while inside of buildings where there are other people; fully vaccinated people no longer need masks when outsides with each other. The NMDOH recommends wearing a mask while around unvaccinated people.
Under the newly updated mask guidance from the Department of Health and U.S. Centers for Disease Control, vaccinated people should continue exercising extreme caution while enjoying social and work events; unvaccinated people remain at extreme risk and should always wear their masks to keep from getting sick and possibly ending up in the hospital.
New Mexico had its highest single day increase of COVID-19 cases on Nov. 19, where it recorded 3,664 new cases in a single day. The state hit its COVID-19 peak days later, Nov. 23, and the cases have been slowly decreasing since, according to the New York Times because the CDC did not record state data until recently.