ALBUQUERQUE – New Mexico is seeing a noticeable uptick in COVID-19 cases and vaccinations have slowed despite continued pressure by state health officials to get more people inoculated.

The New Mexico Health Department reported Wednesday that another 271 cases have been confirmed, marking one of the highest daily totals in months and certainly the highest since public health restrictions were lifted July 1.

New Mexico’s seven-day rolling average has increased to about 160 cases per day. That’s a jump of nearly 25% over the previous week.

Coronavirus cases have tripled in the U.S. over two weeks as many states have seen increases. Health officials blame the delta variant and flattening vaccination rates for the increase.