Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said she is concerned that daily deaths could grow even higher over the year-end holidays.
“We are still in a dramatic set of circumstances,” she said from the governor’s mansion in a remote, online news conference.
She urged residents of New Mexico to “have a Zoom Christmas” online with extended family as a precaution against virus transmission. She said it’s impossible to gather amid holiday food treats and also wear protective masks.
“You can’t wear a mask and eat a bizcochito,” she said, referring to a popular holiday cookie in New Mexico tradition.
Health officials confirmed that the state has received 17,550 vaccines for distribution to hospitals and clinics since the federal approval of a vaccine from drug maker Pfizer and German pharmaceutical company BioNTech.
The vast majority of those doses are going to health workers. The state expects to receive a new shipment of the Pfizer vaccine next week.
Tight restrictions on public gatherings and nonessential business are in place in all 33 counties across the state, under a color-coded system for relaxing stay-at-home restrictions and rates of infection and positive testing for COVID-19 improve.
Lujan Grisham provided an update on the $320 million economic relief package approved in late November by the governor and lawmakers.
Direct payments of $1,200 have gone out to 120,000 people as a supplement to unemployment insurance.