COVID-19 in New Mexico: 143 new cases, first death in Otero County

SANTA FE - New Mexico state health officials on Thursday announced 143 additional positive tests for COVID-19, bringing the total case count to more than 5,500.

Of the 5,503 people in New Mexico who have tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, which causes COVID-19 disease, 1,576 patients — or about 28 percent — have recovered.

The state reported 209 patients are hospitalized in New Mexico for COVID-19.

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Federal detention facilities in Otero County continued to report a surge in cases, and the southern New Mexico county — home to Alamogordo, Tularosa and parts of Chaparral — recorded its first death. The Otero County death, a female in her 50s who was hospitalized and had underlying medical conditions, was one of 11 announced Wednesday.

The neighboring Otero County Processing Center and Otero County Prison Facility — located north of Chaparral — have now tallied 39 and 24 COVID-19 cases, respectively.

Still, northwest New Mexico remains the hardest hit location in the state.

About three-fourth of the new cases and deaths were recorded in Bernalillo, McKinley and San Juan counties.

The most recent cases are:

• 25 new cases in Bernalillo County
• 7 new cases in Cibola County
• 10 new cases in Doña Ana County
• 3 new cases in Eddy County
• 1 new case in Grant County
• 52 new cases in McKinley County
• 1 new case in Otero County
• 2 new cases in Rio Arriba County
• 1 new case in Roosevelt County
• 3 new cases in Sandoval County
• 34 new cases in San Juan County
• 1 new case in Valencia County
• 3 new case among individuals held by federal agencies at the Otero County Prison Facility

The number of deaths of New Mexico residents related to COVID-19 is now 242. The additional deaths are: 

• A male in his 70s from Bernalillo County who was hospitalized and had underlying medical conditions.
• A female in her 20s from McKinley County who individual had underlying medical conditions.
• A male in his 30s from McKinley County who was hospitalized.
• A male in his 70s from McKinley County who had underlying medical conditions and was a resident of the Little Sisters of the Poor facility in Gallup. 
• A female in her 80s from McKinley County who was hospitalized and had underlying medical conditions. She was a resident of the Red Rocks Care Center in Gallup.
• A second female in her 80s from McKinley County who was hospitalized and had underlying medical conditions.
• A female in her 100s from McKinley County who had underlying medical conditions and was a resident of the Little Sisters of the Poor facility in Gallup.
• A female in her 50s from Otero County who was hospitalized and had underlying medical conditions.
• A male in his 90s from San Juan County who had underlying medical conditions and was a resident of Life Care Center in Farmington.
• A male in his 80s from Santa Fe County who was hospitalized and had underlying medical conditions. He was a patient at the Uptown Genesis facility in Albuquerque.
• A female in her 60s from Socorro County who was hospitalized.

Previously reported numbers included four cases that were duplicates, three from McKinley County and one from Sandoval County. Those errors have been corrected. The new totals by county are: 

• Bernalillo County: 1,149
• Catron County: 2
• Chaves County: 30
• Cibola County: 100
• Colfax County: 5
• Curry County: 34
• Doña Ana County: 259
• Eddy County: 17
• Grant County: 16
• Guadalupe County: 17
• Harding County: 1
• Lea County: 15
• Lincoln County: 2
• Los Alamos County: 6
• Luna County: 8
• McKinley County: 1,730
• Otero County: 8
• Quay County: 5
• Rio Arriba County: 30
• Roosevelt County: 14
• Sandoval County: 479
• San Juan County: 1,237
• San Miguel County: 7
• Santa Fe County: 113
• Sierra County: 1
• Socorro County: 49
• Taos County: 22
• Torrance County: 18
• Union County: 3
• Valencia County: 60

Cases among detainees held by federal agencies are:

• Cibola County Correctional Center: 2
• Otero County Prison Facility: 24
• Otero County Processing Center: 39
• Torrance County Detention Facility: 1

New Mexicans who report symptoms of COVID-19 infection, such as fever, cough, shortness of breath, chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, and/or loss of taste or smell should call their health care provider or the NMDOH COVID-19 hotline immediately: 1-855-600-3453.

For information, visit https://cv.nmhealth.org/.

Lucas Peerman can be reached at 575-541-5446, lpeerman@lcsun-news.com or @LittleGuyInATie on Twitter.