NEW YORK (AP) — Fully vaccinated Americans can gather with other vaccinated people indoors without wearing a mask or social distancing, according to long-awaited guidance from federal health officials. The recommendations also say that vaccinated people can come together in the same way with people considered at low-risk for severe disease, such as in the case of vaccinated grandparents visiting …

SANTA FE – The New Mexico Department of Health announced on Monday that all K-12 educators, early childhood (EC) professionals, and staff will be eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccine beginning today, March 8. In keeping with a White House directive, the state will offer first shots to these groups over an approximately three-week period, as follows: • Week 1 (beginning …

Lea County added 54 reported COVID-19 cases on Saturday after a week of single digit or even no new cases of COVID-19, according to the N.M. Department of Health. The COVID-19 positive cases for the week in Lea County are: • Friday: 7 cases • Thursday: 0 cases • Wednesday: 5 cases • Tuesday: 5 cases • Monday: 7 cases • …

Lea County Correctional Facility/GEO Prison saw an increase of 192 COVID-19 cases on Friday. The New Mexico Department of Health news released  announced the LCCF has over 100 positive cases today, this bring the prison’s total positive cases to 673 since the pandemic began and more than half the amount of inmates the prison can hold. However, Eric Harrison, public …

Lea County Correctional Facility/GEO Prison saw an increase of 192 COVID-19 cases on Friday. The New Mexico Department of Health news released  announced the LCCF has over 100 positive cases today, this bring the prison’s total positive cases to 673 since the pandemic began and more than half the amount of inmates the prison can hold. However, Eric Harrison, public …

By COLLIN BINKLEY and MIKE STOBBE Associated Press The nation’s top public health agency said Friday that in-person schooling can resume safely with masks, social distancing and other strategies, and vaccination of teachers, while important, is not a prerequisite for reopening. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released its long-awaited road map for getting students back to classrooms in …

Lea County added three reported deaths on Wednesday due to COVID-19, according to the N.M. Department of Health, and 12 new cases. The department reports the deaths were: A male in his 50s from Lea County. The individual was hospitalized. A female in her 60s from Lea County. The individual was hospitalized and had underlying conditions. A male in his 60s …

Lea County added one new reported death on Friday due to COVID-19, according to the N.M. Department of Health, and 14 new cases. The department reports the one deaths was: A male in his 70s from Lea County. The individual was hospitalized and had underlying conditions With that death, Lea County has had a cumulative total of 126 deaths related to …

Lea County added one new reported death on Friday due to COVID-19, according to the N.M. Department of Health, and 14 new cases. The department reports the one deaths was: A male in his 70s from Lea County. The individual was hospitalized and had underlying conditions With that death, Lea County has had a cumulative total of 126 deaths related to …

Editor’s Note: The daily reports from Santa Fe of the number of positive COVID-19 cases and deaths can sometimes be overwhelming and seemingly have no connection to everyday life and what we are experiencing in southeastern New Mexico. So, we found five families who have all dealt with COVID-19 first hand and who would share their stories with our readers. …