COVID cases rise nine percent in Taos County
Cases continue upward trend throughout U.S. and state
The COVID-19 case rate has increased by nine 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 25 new cases in the past week, compared to 23 cases the week before, according to Town of Taos GIS Analyst Tim Corner. Meanwhile, cases were up 42 percent throughout the state and 19 percent nationally.
In New Mexico, the sevenday-average daily case count has increased to 360 cases per week, compared to 255 the previous week. The total number of cases in the county is now at 5,435, while 5,239 patients in Taos County are reported to have recovered from the virus.
“Cases continue to rise across the nation, but more slowly in Taos County than most places in New Mexico,” said Corner in an email. “Cases in Taos County have been consistently around 25 cases per week over the last month — 20
times lower than the Omicron peak at the end of January. As cases continue to rise in New Mexico, hospitalizations have begun to creep up. Current hospitalizations in New Mexico are above 50 for the first time since April 22. This is still way below the peak of 682 at the end of January.”
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, making for a total of 90 COVID-related deaths in Taos County since the pandemic began.
The New Mexico Department of Health reports that the state has seen more than 527,000 cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic began in March of 2020, with a death toll of 7,638, up from 7,581 the previous week. The CDC reports that more than 997,000 people have died in the U.S. due to COVID-19, and is reporting there are approximately 16,571 hospitalizations nationwide, up from
13,457 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 and 70 percent are partially vaccinated, 61 percent fully 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.