Associated Press
New Mexico health officials say almost all of the state s 33 counties have shown improvements over the last two weeks when it comes to reducing daily case totals and test positivity rates.
The latest data released by the state Health Department shows seven counties have improved and moved into the yellow category, while sparsely populated Harding County remains green.
The rest of the counties including those that span New Mexico s most populated areas remain in the red zone due to higher risks.
However, state officials say more than two-thirds of counties are on the cusp of reaching the metrics required for yellow classification.
Vaccines Among Last Hurdles To Open New Mexico Classrooms - By Cedar Attanasio Associated Press/Report For America
New Mexico s teacher s unions say a slow vaccine rollout and the expiration of federal COVID-19 sick leave are the remaining hurdles to getting students in schools.
On Tuesday, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced that some of the power to reopen schools will be given back to local districts nearly a year after they closed their doors.
That decision came with the blessing of union officials and a promise to the state s teachers, who are among the oldest and therefore most vulnerable teaching population in the country.