91°µÍø

Nearly 1.2 million people have died from COVID in the United States since the first cases emerged four years ago, according to the CDC.And today an estimated 16 million people have the lingering symptoms of long COVID, with about one quarter of them no longer able to work. Researchers at the University of New Mexico Hospital are using findings from a multi-site long COVID study to learn how to diagnose prolonged symptoms and provide better treatment.

Recently, the New Mexico Department of Health announced changes to how and when people can access information about COVID transmission in the state. Several programs will be completely discontinued and reporting of cases will be scaled back. Some public health workers say that will make their work more difficult.

New Mexico is one of just five states that has kept its COVID-19 public health emergency order in effect. It was set to expire Friday but the governor announced it will stay in place for the rest of the month — the last of 41 extensions since March, 2020.

As we approach the three-year anniversary of the start of the pandemic, New Mexico alone has reported just over 9,000 deaths. A local non-profit group, Marked by COVID, is at the Roundhouse this session to advocate for people who are grieving or need support as survivors.

During our most recent Let’s Talk New Mexico show, advocates, long COVID survivors, and health care professionals expressed concern that more people than ever will develop severe and debilitating disabilities. Reporter Taylor Velazquez continued the conversation with Mia Ives-Rublee, director for the Disability Justice Initiative at American Progress, about the future of our already broken health care system.

Nationally, almost 500 people are dying daily of COVID-19 on average. In New Mexico, it’s five per day. That’s fewer than two weeks ago and hospitalizations have declined. But the number of counties at the highest levels of the virus rose to 11 this week according to the latest data from the CDC, including Bernalillo. The CDC and state health officials recommend wearing N95 masks indoors, in public settings in such counties, but there are no mandates in place. 91°µÍø’s Jered Ebenreck has this update.

As the second holiday weekend in two weeks arrives, New Mexicans face fresh challenges calculating COVID-19 risk. By CDC standards, New Mexico has a surge of cases higher than last summer, without a mask mandate, managed by an understaffed Department of Health that provides irregular updates as hospitalizations and deaths increase.

Resources for those impacted by COVID-19

Long Covid leaves one teacher exhausted and confused 6 months later. She shares her story anonymously to protect her from retaliation. Her story includes physical, emotional, and mental struggles.

This week on Let’s Talk New Mexico we’re talking Long COVID with several people who are survivors, as well as health care officials about what kinds of treatments are available and how doctors can learn to spot the symptoms in their patients.