COVID cases decrease in Taos County

Cases on the rise throughout the state, nationally

The COVID-19 case rate has decreased by 12 percent throughout Taos County (with 79 cases per 100,000 people per week) after a short uptick in cases the previous week. The county saw 23 new cases in the past week, compared to 26 cases the week before, according to Town of Taos GIS Analyst Tim Corner. Meanwhile, cases were up 25 percent throughout the state and 26 percent nationally.

In New Mexico, the sevenday-average daily case count has increased to 252 cases per week, compared to 204 the previous week. The total number of cases in the county is now at 5,412. More than 5,230 patients in Taos County are reported to have recovered from the virus.

No additional deaths were reported among Taos County residents in the past week, leaving the total number of deaths to 90 since March 1, 2020. The last person to die of COVID-19 in Taos County was on April 14, 2022.

“Cases continue to creep upwards across the country. However, Taos County actually saw a small decrease in cases last week,” said Corner in an email. “Hospitalizations nationally have begun to follow the upward case trend from a low plateau. While in New Mexico, current hospitalizations remain relatively low and stable in the mid-forties. Death counts appear to be plateauing nationally while still declining in New Mexico.”

The New Mexico Department of Health reports that the state has seen more than 524,000 cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic began in March of 2020, with a death toll of 7,581, up from 7,523 the previous week. The CDC reports that more than 995,000 people have died in the U.S. due to COVID-19, and is reporting there are approximately 13,457 hospitalizations nationwide, up from 11,411 hospitalizations last week.

Taos County residents (aged 18+) remain 89 percent fully vaccinated, 99 percent partially vaccinated and 59 percent boosted. For the state as a whole, 80 percent are fully vaccinated and 95 percent are partially vaccinated. Sixty-eight percent of New Mexicans have received one booster shot, while seven percent have received more than one.

For younger New Mexicans (aged 12-17), 62 percent are fully vaccinated, 70 percent are partially vaccinated and 43 percent with one booster. According to Corner, 32 percent of children aged 5-11 have been fully vaccinated and 40 percent have been partially vaccinated.

To get vaccinated, or sign up to get a booster shot, go to vaccinenm.org.