Opening Day

CIBOLA COUNTY, N.M. – After nearly 16 months of COVID-19 lockdowns, New Mexico is finally emerging from the great pause that came over the Land of Enchantment. Thanks to the vaccines and the hard work of public officials to get those shots into the arms of New Mexicans, the state will reopen on July 1.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham had set the state’s reopening to occur once the state hit 60 percent of New Mexico residents vaccinated. After the state’s Vax 2 the Max initiative through June, Governor Lujan Grisham said that the state was on track for the goal and that its time for the state to open up.

The coming celebration of liberation won’t be without a cloud overhead reminding the state of the heavy toll COVID-19 impounded on the state. The virus had claimed, as of press time, 4,316 New Mexican lives. Quick action and New Mexican resilience, even when the state was reluctant to follow all of the public health restrictions, are credited by health officials as having kept the death rate low and saving lives across the state.

Reopening – and it feels so good

Starting July 1, Red or Green will go back to normal – about chile and not counties.

Governor Lujan Grisham initially wanted 60 percent of citizens vaccinated by June 17, this would allow two more weeks in lockdown for the vaccines to take full effect and the state would reopen on July 1. The state was just shy of this goal, on June 18 the vaccination rate sat at 59.4 percent, despite not being a round 60 percent, the governor made the decision to allow the state to reopen on July 1. New Mexico has since surpassed the 60 percent mark for vaccinations.

“We are grateful to all New Mexicans who have stepped up to receive their shots and who have called us to provide their data. We believe our level of immunity is in fact greater than 60 percent, including the immunity of those in our state who have had COVID-19 and have not been vaccinated, and those who have had a mild infection as well. For all practical purposes, we have met the governor’s 60 percent goal, and we need to keep up our efforts to increase vaccinations and enhance good public health practices throughout the summer,” New Mexico Human Services Secretary Dr. David Scrase said.

What changes now

that we’re reopening?

The state will no longer have the red, yellow, green, and turquoise indicators for a safe reopening. No matter the county, all of New Mexico will be able to operate without any COVID-19 restrictions.

All business in New Mexico may operate at 100 percent capacity.

Mass gathering restrictions are rescinded, large events are allowed to happen again.

The state will continue to follow the US Centers for Disease Control guidance on mask wearing, that guidance currently states that people who have been fully vaccinated do not need to wear a mask.

It is important to remember that while state restrictions may be rescinded, businesses may continue to have restrictions and those must be observed.

Get vaccinated

New Mexico cannot declare victory over COVID-19 yet, but the state is on its way to being free of the disease that took a year away from it. COVID-19 continues to be a threat to the well being of every citizen, the tools are available now to protect yourself and those around you. The New Mexico Department of Health is asking all New Mexicans to get vaccinated to help, “Bring the good times back!”

V i s i t https://goodtimes.vaccinenm.org/good-times/ to register for the vaccine, seniors in need of assistance can call 1-855-600-3453.

There are currently three vaccines available to the citizens in the state, Moderna’s inoculation which requires two doses to provide the maximum amount of protection, Pfizer’s Bio-N-Tech vaccine which also requires two shots for maximum protection, and the Johnson and Johnson Janssen vaccine which at the moment only requires one shot, according to the US Centers for Disease Control.

“We are learning that just receiving the first of two vaccines in a series is not enough to protect you against some of the highly infectious variants,” said New Mexico Health Secretary Doctor Tracie Collins, “So if you have had only one Pfizer or Moderna vaccination, please, schedule your booster shot today. And help us keep moving forward, and keep your family and your neighbors safe.”

NMDOH officials tell the Cibola Citizen that there are currently clinical trials on a booster shot for Janssen that has not yet been completed, and this shot may have a secondary component in the near future but remains a single shot vaccine at the moment.

There are many rumors and conspiracy theories, the majority of which are unfounded, surrounding the COVID-19 vaccines. The CDC recommends speaking with your primary care physician if you have questions about the vaccine, and the NMDOH has a phone number for questions, they can be reached at 1-855-600-3453.

A message from the governor

This week was a particularly productive week for our vaccination efforts. We will continue to push forward with getting shots into arms, and we need everyone – all New Mexicans – to continue to help mitigate vaccine hesitancy and resistance by sharing productive, data-backed information about the safety and efficacy of these vaccines with family and friends. Disinformation kills. We have to keep pushing back,” Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham said.

“I know some will say this day is late in coming. I sure wish we’d gotten here sooner. I said all along: Vaccines are the way out, getting shots gets us there quicker. We were always going to put health and safety first. All along we have taken the approach that will protect the most New Mexicans, knowing the unique health risks of our population, understanding and respecting how dangerous this virus is. I believe, on the whole, New Mexicans made the right public health decisions in their day-to-day lives, following the science and helping us get to this point quickly and, more importantly, as safely as we possibly could.

“All that said, this is an exciting announcement. We’re rounding up, setting a date for a conclusive introduction of the new normal:

July 1. We have made incredible progress, and I’m proud of New Mexico. The simple fact is: We are beating this pandemic. The best is yet to come. It would not have been possible without the commitment and sacrifice of so many in our state. We looked out for one another. We made the tough choices. We did this together – with the fortitude and perseverance and compassion that makes us who we are as New Mexicans. I firmly believe limitless possibility awaits us on the other side of this crisis, and I am confident that, continuing to work together, for the betterment of all New Mexico workers and families, we will be a national model for recovery, growth and new opportunity. I greatly look forward to Opening Day in two weeks, and I hope tens of thousands more New Mexicans come forward for their vaccines by that day,” the governor said.