• The state Department of Health reported just 628 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday, though this came as the number of tests performed each day dropped. The state also reported 26 additional deaths related to the disease. Read more here.
  • Legislators will start the legislative session with COVID-19 precautions (and increased security over possible violent protests) in place Tuesday at noon, the Santa Fe New Mexican reported.
    • NM Political Report will be using stories from the Santa Fe New Mexican to help cover the legislative session this year.
    • The Albuquerque Journal also covered the precautions ahead of the start of the session.
  • The Albuquerque Journal tried to answer questions from residents about when they would receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
  • As of Monday’s update, the state Department of Health said the state had received 175,750 doses of COVID-19 vaccine and administered 137,531, including 44,927 in the last seven days.
  • The Navajo Nation is on track with its vaccine distribution plans, the Navajo Times reported.
  • The state confirmed it found the second case of the more contagious COVID-19 variant in New Mexico, KRQE-TV reported.
  • Legislators have prefiled two bills to mandate paid sick leave, KOB-TV reported.
  • The state is facing pressure to announce what will happen with fall prep sports that were postponed last year because of COVID-19, the Santa Fe New Mexican reported.
  • The Walmart in Ruidoso Downs was closed to clean and restock the store, the Ruidoso News reported.
  • KRQE-TV covered the economic impact on local businesses of the legislative session going largely virtual.
  • An Albuquerque sporting goods store announced a program to aid local restaurants by encouraging residents to buy gift cards from local restaurants to aid them as COVID-19 restrictions continue to make it more difficult to serve customers, the Albuquerque Journal reported.