The vaccine deployment in December 2020 signaled a turning point in the COVID-19 pandemic. By the end of May 2021, 40% of the U.S. population was fully vaccinated. But as vaccination rates lagged over the summer, new surges of COVID-19 came, including Delta in the summer of 2021, and now the Omicron variant, which comprises the majority of cases in the U.S.
Researchers around the world have reported that Omicron is more transmissible than Delta, making breakthrough and repeat infections more likely.
The United States as of Nov. 16 reached over 1 million COVID-19-related deaths and 98.1 million COVID-19 cases, according to Johns Hopkins University. Currently, 68.6% of the population is fully vaccinated, and 10.1% of vaccinated people have received the most recently available bivalent booster doses.
Stacker compiled a list of the counties with highest COVID-19 infection rates in New Mexico using data from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services and vaccination data from Covid Act Now. Counties are ranked by the highest infection rate per 100,000 residents within the week leading up to Nov. 10, 2022. Cumulative cases per 100,000 served as a tiebreaker.
Keep reading to see whether your county ranks among the highest COVID-19 infection rates in your state.
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#33. Quay County, NM
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 12 (1 new cases, -90% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 29,129 (2,404 total cases)
--- 3.6% less cases per 100k residents than New Mexico
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 836 (69 total deaths)
--- 101.9% more deaths per 100k residents than New Mexico
- Population that is fully vaccinated: not available
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#32. Eddy County, NM
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 17 (10 new cases, -23% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 32,007 (18,711 total cases)
--- 5.9% more cases per 100k residents than New Mexico
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 551 (322 total deaths)
--- 33.1% more deaths per 100k residents than New Mexico
- Population that is fully vaccinated: not available
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#31. Mora County, NM
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 22 (1 new cases, -75% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 20,969 (948 total cases)
--- 30.6% less cases per 100k residents than New Mexico
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 442 (20 total deaths)
--- 6.8% more deaths per 100k residents than New Mexico
- Population that is fully vaccinated: not available
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#30. Lea County, NM
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 24 (17 new cases, -11% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 30,523 (21,693 total cases)
--- 1.0% more cases per 100k residents than New Mexico
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 571 (406 total deaths)
--- 37.9% more deaths per 100k residents than New Mexico
- Population that is fully vaccinated: not available
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#29. Roosevelt County, NM
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 27 (5 new cases, -80% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 31,778 (5,879 total cases)
--- 5.2% more cases per 100k residents than New Mexico
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 589 (109 total deaths)
--- 42.3% more deaths per 100k residents than New Mexico
- Population that is fully vaccinated: not available
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#28. Chaves County, NM
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 28 (18 new cases, -45% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 36,964 (23,884 total cases)
--- 22.3% more cases per 100k residents than New Mexico
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 553 (357 total deaths)
--- 33.6% more deaths per 100k residents than New Mexico
- Population that is fully vaccinated: not available
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#27. Curry County, NM
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 65 (32 new cases, +39% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 29,865 (14,620 total cases)
--- 1.2% less cases per 100k residents than New Mexico
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 472 (231 total deaths)
--- 14.0% more deaths per 100k residents than New Mexico
- Population that is fully vaccinated: not available
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#26. Doña Ana County, NM
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 71 (154 new cases, +52% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 33,374 (72,821 total cases)
--- 10.4% more cases per 100k residents than New Mexico
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 418 (913 total deaths)
--- 1.0% more deaths per 100k residents than New Mexico
- Population that is fully vaccinated: not available
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#25. Sierra County, NM
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 74 (8 new cases, +14% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 22,000 (2,374 total cases)
--- 27.2% less cases per 100k residents than New Mexico
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 788 (85 total deaths)
--- 90.3% more deaths per 100k residents than New Mexico
- Population that is fully vaccinated: not available
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#24. Union County, NM
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 74 (3 new cases, -57% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 22,469 (912 total cases)
--- 25.6% less cases per 100k residents than New Mexico
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 493 (20 total deaths)
--- 19.1% more deaths per 100k residents than New Mexico
- Population that is fully vaccinated: not available
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#23. Torrance County, NM
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 91 (14 new cases, +75% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 20,335 (3,144 total cases)
--- 32.7% less cases per 100k residents than New Mexico
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 382 (59 total deaths)
--- 7.7% less deaths per 100k residents than New Mexico
- Population that is fully vaccinated: not available
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#22. Luna County, NM
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 97 (23 new cases, +283% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 32,498 (7,705 total cases)
--- 7.5% more cases per 100k residents than New Mexico
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 620 (147 total deaths)
--- 49.8% more deaths per 100k residents than New Mexico
- Population that is fully vaccinated: not available
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#21. Otero County, NM
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 107 (72 new cases, +57% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 23,734 (16,018 total cases)
--- 21.5% less cases per 100k residents than New Mexico
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 322 (217 total deaths)
--- 22.2% less deaths per 100k residents than New Mexico
- Population that is fully vaccinated: not available
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#20. Lincoln County, NM
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 112 (22 new cases, +29% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 31,913 (6,246 total cases)
--- 5.6% more cases per 100k residents than New Mexico
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 358 (70 total deaths)
--- 13.5% less deaths per 100k residents than New Mexico
- Population that is fully vaccinated: not available
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#19. Colfax County, NM
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 117 (14 new cases, +8% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 22,628 (2,702 total cases)
--- 25.1% less cases per 100k residents than New Mexico
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 569 (68 total deaths)
--- 37.4% more deaths per 100k residents than New Mexico
- Population that is fully vaccinated: not available
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#18. Socorro County, NM
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 126 (21 new cases, +24% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 26,874 (4,471 total cases)
--- 11.1% less cases per 100k residents than New Mexico
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 577 (96 total deaths)
--- 39.4% more deaths per 100k residents than New Mexico
- Population that is fully vaccinated: not available
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#17. Harding County, NM
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 160 (1 new cases, -50% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 15,840 (99 total cases)
--- 47.6% less cases per 100k residents than New Mexico
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 640 (4 total deaths)
--- 54.6% more deaths per 100k residents than New Mexico
- Population that is fully vaccinated: not available
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#16. Guadalupe County, NM
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 163 (7 new cases, 0% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 29,535 (1,270 total cases)
--- 2.3% less cases per 100k residents than New Mexico
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 419 (18 total deaths)
--- 1.2% more deaths per 100k residents than New Mexico
- Population that is fully vaccinated: not available
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#15. San Miguel County, NM
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 191 (52 new cases, -35% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 26,744 (7,295 total cases)
--- 11.5% less cases per 100k residents than New Mexico
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 275 (75 total deaths)
--- 33.6% less deaths per 100k residents than New Mexico
- Population that is fully vaccinated: not available
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#14. Hidalgo County, NM
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 191 (8 new cases, +60% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 30,133 (1,265 total cases)
--- 0.3% less cases per 100k residents than New Mexico
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 381 (16 total deaths)
--- 8.0% less deaths per 100k residents than New Mexico
- Population that is fully vaccinated: not available
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#13. Cibola County, NM
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 191 (51 new cases, 0% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 32,986 (8,799 total cases)
--- 9.2% more cases per 100k residents than New Mexico
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 769 (205 total deaths)
--- 85.7% more deaths per 100k residents than New Mexico
- Population that is fully vaccinated: not available
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#12. Valencia County, NM
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 194 (149 new cases, +52% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 29,570 (22,677 total cases)
--- 2.1% less cases per 100k residents than New Mexico
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 396 (304 total deaths)
--- 4.3% less deaths per 100k residents than New Mexico
- Population that is fully vaccinated: not available
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#11. Sandoval County, NM
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 209 (306 new cases, +34% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 28,936 (42,463 total cases)
--- 4.2% less cases per 100k residents than New Mexico
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 333 (488 total deaths)
--- 19.6% less deaths per 100k residents than New Mexico
- Population that is fully vaccinated: not available
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#10. Santa Fe County, NM
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 226 (340 new cases, +14% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 25,440 (38,251 total cases)
--- 15.8% less cases per 100k residents than New Mexico
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 241 (363 total deaths)
--- 41.8% less deaths per 100k residents than New Mexico
- Population that is fully vaccinated: not available
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#9. Catron County, NM
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 227 (8 new cases, +167% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 14,035 (495 total cases)
--- 53.6% less cases per 100k residents than New Mexico
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 624 (22 total deaths)
--- 50.7% more deaths per 100k residents than New Mexico
- Population that is fully vaccinated: not available
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#8. Bernalillo County, NM
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 238 (1,615 new cases, +37% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 27,351 (185,746 total cases)
--- 9.5% less cases per 100k residents than New Mexico
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 314 (2,131 total deaths)
--- 24.2% less deaths per 100k residents than New Mexico
- Population that is fully vaccinated: not available
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#7. Los Alamos County, NM
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 253 (49 new cases, +40% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 22,567 (4,371 total cases)
--- 25.3% less cases per 100k residents than New Mexico
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 114 (22 total deaths)
--- 72.5% less deaths per 100k residents than New Mexico
- Population that is fully vaccinated: not available
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#6. Taos County, NM
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 254 (83 new cases, -6% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 21,214 (6,942 total cases)
--- 29.8% less cases per 100k residents than New Mexico
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 309 (101 total deaths)
--- 25.4% less deaths per 100k residents than New Mexico
- Population that is fully vaccinated: not available
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#5. Rio Arriba County, NM
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 293 (114 new cases, +13% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 32,402 (12,611 total cases)
--- 7.2% more cases per 100k residents than New Mexico
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 401 (156 total deaths)
--- 3.1% less deaths per 100k residents than New Mexico
- Population that is fully vaccinated: not available
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#4. Grant County, NM
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 363 (98 new cases, +21% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 33,328 (8,998 total cases)
--- 10.3% more cases per 100k residents than New Mexico
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 393 (106 total deaths)
--- 5.1% less deaths per 100k residents than New Mexico
- Population that is fully vaccinated: not available
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#3. McKinley County, NM
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 429 (306 new cases, +88% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 43,594 (31,112 total cases)
--- 44.3% more cases per 100k residents than New Mexico
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 893 (637 total deaths)
--- 115.7% more deaths per 100k residents than New Mexico
- Population that is fully vaccinated: not available
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#2. San Juan County, NM
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 543 (673 new cases, +90% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 39,478 (48,936 total cases)
--- 30.6% more cases per 100k residents than New Mexico
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 671 (832 total deaths)
--- 62.1% more deaths per 100k residents than New Mexico
- Population that is fully vaccinated: not available
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#1. De Baca County, NM
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 629 (11 new cases, -15% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 39,416 (689 total cases)
--- 30.4% more cases per 100k residents than New Mexico
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 343 (6 total deaths)
--- 17.1% less deaths per 100k residents than New Mexico
- Population that is fully vaccinated: not available
