New Mexico Extends COVID-19 Public Health Orders | New Mexico News

SANTA FE, NM (AP) – The New Mexico The health ministry on Friday extended health orders related to COVID-19, including a mask warrant for indoor public spaces and the requirement that healthcare workers and some other employees be up to date with their vaccinations.

The extension of health orders for at least an additional month comes as the omicron variant increases the number of cases.

Many of the recent positive cases of the highly transmissible variant have been mild infections that did not require hospitalization. Yet New Mexico hospitals continue to operate to standards of care that prioritize immediate medical emergencies.

Hospital officials have acknowledged that most patients are being treated for issues unrelated to the virus and that some of the strain on the state’s healthcare system is rooted in a staffing shortage. State data showed there were 539 people hospitalized on Friday with COVID infection, which is less than in previous peaks.

The state also confirmed that New Mexico is following federal guidelines that reduce the time to isolation and quarantine.

Health officials said in a briefing Wednesday that they expected the omicron variant to peak within two to four weeks. They said they hoped the following variants would follow suit and lead to less severe illness.

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