The most current data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows Bernalillo County as having a high COVID-19 community level. From June 7-14, the positivity rate in Bernalillo County decreased by .59% from the previous seven-day reporting period and the death rate decreased by 66.67% for June 9-16 compared to the previous seven days.
According to the CDC, the COVID-19 community level is determined by the higher of the new admissions and inpatient beds metrics, based on the current level of new cases per 100,000 population in the past seven days. Despite the decrease in positivity and death rates, Bernalillo County has seen an increase in the number of new hospital admissions of confirmed COVID-19 cases among county residents. There were an estimated 73 new admissions in the county from June 8-15, an increase of 7.3% from the previous seven days. The number of positive cases is thought to be underreported because of the use of at-home COVID-19 testing kits. From June 9-16, there were 2,342 new cases reported in the county, a decrease of 4.1% from the previous seven days.
For areas with high COVID-19 community levels, the CDC recommends the following individual- and household-level prevention behaviors:
• Wear a well-fitting mask indoors in public, regardless of vaccination status (including in schools and other indoor community settings)
• If you are immunocompromised or high risk for severe disease:
– Wear a mask or respirator that provides you with greater protection.
– Consider avoiding nonessential indoor activities in public where you could be exposed.
– Talk to your health care provider about whether you need to take other precautions (e.g., testing).
– Have a plan for rapid testing if needed (e.g., having home tests or access to testing).
– Talk to your health care provider about whether you are a candidate for treatments like oral antivirals, PrEP and monoclonal antibodies.
• If you have household or social contact with someone at high risk for severe disease:
– consider self-testing to detect infection before contact.
– consider wearing a mask when indoors with them.
• Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines and boosters.
• Maintain improved ventilation throughout indoor spaces when possible.
• Follow CDC recommendations for isolation and quarantine, including getting tested if you are exposed to COVID-19 or have symptoms of COVID-19.
One of the community-level prevention strategies recommended by the CDC is to implement enhanced prevention measures in high-risk congregate settings. Both the upcoming city council and county commission meetings will be conducted over Zoom instead of in-person due to an increase in COVID cases throughout the state. The next county commission meeting is 5 p.m. Tuesday, June 21. To join the online meeting, use the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87049573544
The next city council meeting is scheduled for 5 p.m. Wednesday, June 22. As of Monday morning, a Zoom link to the meeting was not available on the city website. Although county commission and city council meetings will meet virtually, Mayor Tim Keller, who recently tested positive for COVID-19, is still scheduled to speak to a live crowd at the Albuquerque Rail Yards during his June 25 State of the City Address.
According to the CDC, COVID-19 is the third-leading cause of death in the United States and in New Mexico. Heart disease is the biggest killer in the country and the state, followed by cancer and then COVID. For the third quarter reporting period of 2021, New Mexico’s COVID-19 death rate was 93.9 per 100,000. For comparison, the 2020 homicide rate in New Mexico was 10.8 per 100,000 and the firearm injury death rate 22.7 per 100,000, according to CDC data.
Worldwide, it is estimated that 6.32 million people have died from COVID-19 since the virus was first recognized by officials in late 2019. The United States is the only country to have surpassed 1 million deaths from the virus. India, with a population of over a billion more people than the U.S., has reported a total of 525,000 deaths from COVID-19.
According to New York Times data, at least 1 in 5 Bernalillo County residents have been infected, with a total of 159,286 cases being reported since the pandemic began. New Mexico Department of Health data shows there have been a total of 10,072 cases reported in the 87111 zip code, 9,331 cases in the 87109 zip code, and 2,803 cases in the 87122 zip code.