Most of the counties in the state moved to yellow or green restrictions because of positive COVID-19 trends in the last two weeks. The governor and state health official were optimistic in a Wednesday press conference. Read more here.
The state’s four most-populous counties (Bernalillo, Doña Ana, Sandoval and Santa Fe counties) are all among those that are now in yellow restrictions.
Visitation in nursing homes is also expanded in the yellow restrictions, KRQE-TV noted.
The state had administered 365,297 doses of COVID-19 vaccine as of Wednesday (15,195 more than reported on Tuesday). This included 264,217 first doses (+6,532) and 92,417 2nd doses (+8,663). As of Wednesday, the state had received 394,175 doses from the federal government, and administered 65,896 doses in the last seven days.
Modeling from Los Alamos National Labs and the state showed that vaccines have had a 12 to 16 percent impact on reducing cases, the Santa Fe Reporter noted.
The state Senate passed three COVID-19 financial relief bills on Wednesday, sending the bills to the House, the Santa Fe New Mexican reported.
Bernalillo County received a $5 million emergency rental assistance grant, KRQE-TV reported.
Some restaurants in Albuquerque reopened indoor dining on Wednesday night, KRQE-TV reported.
While some breweries opened up indoor dining right away, some breweries are waiting, KOB-TV reported.
Restaurant owners are debating how and when to reopen indoor dining in Santa Fe now that the county is in “yellow” restrictions, the Santa Fe Reporter wrote.
The state also lifted its travel quarantine restriction for out-of-state visitors from “high risk” states, but continues to strongly advise that travelers quarantine after coming to New Mexico, The Paper reported.
With more remote workers, there is a lot more vacant commercial office space in Albuquerque, KRQE-TV reported.
Sixth-graders and high school seniors will be able to return to school in-person learning in a hybrid model on Feb. 22 in Rio Rancho, the Rio Rancho Observer reported. Other middle and high school students will be able to return at an as-yet-to-be-determined date.
The Los Alamos Public Schools board passed a resolution calling on educators to be vaccinated as in-person learning returns, the Los Alamos Reporter wrote. So far, 41 percent of the district staff have received vaccinations.
