New mask mandate and testing requirements
NEW MEXICO – The state Department of Health has released guidance for the immunocompromised and COVID-19 vaccine booster shots. The news comes as the US Food and Drug Administration voted to clear the way for a booster shot to the two-shot Pfizer BioNTech and the Moderna COVID-19 vaccines. This guidance does not apply to the Johnson and Johnson one-dose vaccine. After press deadline on Aug. 17 Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham offered an update to the state’s efforts in fighting COVID-19; these reintroduced restrictions are below.
On Aug. 12 the FDA voted to approve a booster shot for the two vaccines, and on Aug. 13 the US Centers for Disease Control voted to fully approve the third shot for some immunocompromised people, according to Matt Bieber, communications director of NMDOH and info from the CDC.
“DOH is looking ahead to the likely possibility that the federal government will approve third shots for some groups of immunocompromised people. In the meantime, DOH is continuing to develop plans and operational protocols to ensure that vaccines can be made available as quickly and efficiently as possible,” said DOH Deputy Secretary Dr. Laura Parajon.
Guidance on the booster shot was released late on Aug. 16, this guidance applies only to Moderna and Pfizer mRNA vaccines. This third shot should be administered more than 28-days after the second dose of the vaccine is received by a citizen.
According to NMDOH, “New Mexico COVID-19 vaccine providers can start providing the third dose to eligible patients immediately. Those patients include:
“Active treatment for solid tumor and hematologic malignancies
“Receipt of solid-organ transplant and taking immunosuppressive therapy
“Receipt of CAR-T-cell or hematopoietic stem cell transplant (within 2 years of transplantation or taking immunosuppression therapy)
“Moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (e.g., DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome)
“Advanced or untreated HIV infection
“Active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids (i.e., ≥20mg prednisone or equivalent per day), alkylating agents, antimetabolites, transplant-related immunosuppressive drugs, cancer chemotherapeutic agents classified as severely immunosuppressive, tumor-necrosis (TNF) blockers, and other biologic agents that are immunosuppressive or immunomodulatory.”
NMDOH encourages people who fall into these categories to sign up for a booster shot as soon as possible.
“We encourage New Mexicans with immune-related health conditions to speak directly to their primary care physicians and specialist teams, or their pharmacists – and to get the third shot if appropriate,” said DOH Acting Secretary and Health and Human Services Secretary David Scrase, MD.
How is Cibola County?
Because COVID-19 stats are not updated until after press deadline, using data from Aug. 16 Cibola had 171 active cases of COVID-19. The county has had a total of 2,981 cases, suffered 128 deaths, administered 80,026 tests, and has had 2,810 recoveries from COVID-19.
Women dominate the overall amount of citizens with confirmed COVID-19 cases, 52.94 percent of the overall cases. This has been a trend, with women leading the county’s confirmed overall caseload since the start of the pandemic. Cibola County Emergency Manager Dustin Middleton had previously stated that it is still too early to tell exactly why this is the case.
New restrictions
Post-deadline on Aug. 17 Gov. Lujan Grisham held a COVID-19 update.
Due to the massive increase in COVID-19 cases over the last two-weeks throughout the State of New Mexico, the governor reintroduced a mask mandate for indoor spaces. Starting Aug. 20 masks must be worn in all indoor spaces. This order will be in effect until Sept. 15, when the state will review COVID-19 cases and determine if it is safe to remove the mandate.
“We all want the pandemic to be over,” said Secretary David Scrase, PhD, “But the virus has its own timeline. And the virus has mutated. At this stage, the Delta variant makes up virtually 100 percent of new COVID-19 cases in New Mexico. This variant spreads up to four times more rapidly than the virus we were dealing with last year. The good news is that vaccines work in preventing serious illness and death from a COVID-19 infection. The bad news is that the virus is still spreading and seriously harming unvaccinated people, and this means unsustainable strain in our hospital system. A mask helps stop the spread. Please do your part and help New Mexico stay on the right track: Mask up and get your shots.”
All hospital workers and employees in high-health-risk settings must be vaccinated; or, if they fall into specific exemptions, submit to weekly COVID-19 testing.
“The safety and health of New Mexico’s seniors is paramount,” said Aging and Long-Term Services Secretary Katrina Hotrum-Lopez. “Many of them have thankfully made the decision to proactively protect themselves and get the vaccine, which is translating into fewer hospital admissions, but COVID is still getting into our state’s long-term care facilities through staff transmission and taking its toll on those who are unvaccinated. We’re seeing hotspots and cases increase across the state, which is why we’re thankful for the leadership of the governor and Secretary Scrase and the measures they’re taking to actively protect our most vulnerable.”
All teachers and school staff must be vaccinated or submit to weekly testing.
“Our priority is keeping students and staff safe and learning in school buildings,” said Public Education Secretary-Designate Kurt Steinhaus. “We know from experience that in-person learning is the gold standard. Masks are part of that safety strategy, but vaccinations are the best tool, hands down. Because of increasing infections in schools due to the Delta variant, we need to work together to step up our game and focus on COVID safety measures that can keep our schools open for learning.”
“I know many New Mexicans who are conscientious about public health and committed to protecting their families and communities have already resumed wearing their facemasks. I sincerely thank you for taking this step and for putting the health and safety of our state first. My belief is that when all of us take this step, out of an abundance of caution, we will ensure that New Mexico is not forced to again restrict any commercial activities in our state. New Mexico’s economic recovery is too important. We cannot risk another unsustainable wave of hospitalizations threatening to overwhelm our health care system,” Governor Lujan Grisham said. “I will also note that getting vaccinated is important to protect those of us who cannot yet make that choice – the children under 12 among us, for instance. Our children’s health and safety is something we absolutely cannot take for granted.”
According to the CDC, masks remain one of the most powerful tools in the prevention of COVID-19 because it catches particles which may contain the virus and stops them from spreading.
To schedule a COVID-19 vaccine appointment visit https://vaccinenm.org/incentive-registration.html first and second dose shot recipients will receive a $100 incentive, this initiative began Aug. 2 and will run until Aug. 31. People receiving a third dose of vaccine will not be eligible for this promotion, according to NMDOH.
The New Mexico coronavirus hotline can be reached at 1-855-600-3453. They can help answer any questions about the virus.