SANTA FE — The state’s emergency public health order on Wednesday was amended to accommodate slightly increased capacity inside essential retail spaces, such as grocery stores and certain other large big box retailers that generate a percentage of their revenue from consumable food and drink products, as cold weather grips most of New Mexico. In accordance with the state’s graduated …

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. gave the final go-ahead Friday to the nation’s first COVID-19 vaccine, marking what could be the beginning of the end of an outbreak that has killed nearly 300,000 Americans, according to a person familiar with the decision but not authorized to discuss it publicly. Shots for health workers and nursing home residents are expected to …

Lea County had a record eight new reported deaths on Friday due to COVID-19, according to the N.M. Department of Health, bringing the total to 63 deaths for the county. The department reports the eight deaths were: • A female in her 50s. • A female in her 70s who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions. • A male in his 70s. • …

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said Thursday the first doses of coronavirus vaccine from drug maker Pfizer are expected to arrive in New Mexico within 24 hours of pending federal approval. There are 17,500 doses of the vaccine reserved for New Mexico, which plans to distribute the initial allotment to health workers at high …

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said Thursday the first doses of coronavirus vaccine from drug maker Pfizer are expected to arrive in New Mexico within 24 hours of pending federal approval. There are 17,500 doses of the vaccine reserved for New Mexico, which plans to distribute the initial allotment to health workers at high …

WASHINGTON (AP) — A U.S. government advisory panel endorsed widespread use of Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine Thursday, putting the country just one step away from launching an epic vaccination campaign against the outbreak that has killed close to 300,000 Americans. Shots could begin within days, depending on how quickly the Food and Drug Administration signs off, as expected, on the expert …

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico’s initial batch of 17,500 vaccine doses from drug maker Pfizer is slated to go to medical facilities and long-term care centers with an emphasis on people within those facilities who have high or medium exposure to the virus, the office of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said Thursday. States across the country are drafting …

Lea County had two more COVID-19 related deaths on Friday, according to the N.M. Department of Health. According to the state, a male in his 70s from Lea County died. The individual had underlying conditions and was a resident of the Lovington Healthcare facility in Lovington. A second male in his 70s from Lea County also died and the individual had underlying …

According to the State of New Mexico, Lea County is in the red. In fact, Lea County leads the red. On Wednesday, New Mexico started its new county-level public health restrictions to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. Lea County has the highest positivity rate at 32 percent. That is a daily mark of 128.6 cases per 100,000. Of the 33 New …

Editor’s Note: The daily reports from Santa Fe of the number of positive COVID-19 cases and deaths can be somewhat overwhelming and depressing, so we found five people who were diagnosed as positive with the COVID-19 virus and would share their stories of survival with our readers. These are those stories. 40 days in isolation In the Bible, Jesus fasted …