Cases increase 21 percent in Taos County

Taos County saw a 21 percent increase in its COVID-19 case rate (cases per 100,000 people per week) from the previous week. In New Mexico, cases were up 1 percent, while nationally, cases were up 14 percent during the same time period.

Taos County reported 92 new cases of COVID-19 from Nov. 16 – Nov. 22, compared to 76 new cases the week before, according to Town of Taos GIS Analyst Tim Corner. The total number of cases in the county is now 2,786.

Three new deaths were reported among Taos County residents in the past week, bringing the total number of deaths to 69. The last person to die of COVID in the county was a woman in her 60s with underlying conditions who was a resident at the Taos Living Center.

Across New Mexico, 19 of 33 counties saw an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases. The average daily case count increased to 1,402 cases per day last week, up from 1,383 the week before. Meanwhile, the average deaths per day in the state increased to 12 per day, the highest level since this past March.

San Juan County, and Doña Ana County have the highest case rates in the state, with each county reporting more than 1,000 cases in the past week.

Every county in the state currently has a high transmission rate – defined by the The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as any county with more than 100 new cases per 100,000 persons in the past seven days.

The New Mexico Department of Health reports the state has seen more than 305,000 cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic began March 2020, with a death toll of 5,277. The CDC reports that more than 770,000 people have died in the U.S. due to COVID-19.

Taos County residents (aged 18+) are 86 percent fully vaccinated and 97 percent partially vaccinated, according to Corner. For the state as a whole, 74 percent are fully vaccinated and 85 percent are partially vaccinated; 20 percent of New Mexicans have received a booster shot. For younger New Mexicans (aged 12–17), 55 percent are fully vaccinated and 64 percent are partially vaccinated. Children aged 5-11 have been 13 percent vaccinated.

Tim Corner said the high case rates, even with high vaccination rates, could be because of the incoming cold weather. “There is a clear pattern on the USA map showing a positive relationship between case rate and latitude as we enter the winter months.

“As we enter the holiday season we need to do what we can to lower the risk of transmitting COVID through our community. Get vaccinated, get the booster, get tested, social distance and mask up.”