Coronavirus: New Mexico cases now at 363, one additional death

SANTA FE - State health officials said Wednesday the number of positive coronavirus, or COVID-19, cases in New Mexico had jumped by 48 to bring the state total up to 363.

The state also reported one more death due to the virus, a woman in her 90s who lived in Sandoval County. The state reported she died Tuesday and had underlying health conditions.

That brings the number of deaths in the state up to 6.

The new numbers include three new positive cases in Doña Ana County, bringing the number of cases there to 21.

In a news release, the state reported there were 31 people hospitalized in New Mexico for COVID-19. That doesn't necessarily include people who tested positive in New Mexico. They could have been transferred in from out of state. 

Hospitalized people not tested in New Mexico wouldn't be included in the 363 cases.

The New Mexico Department of Health continues to report that 26 people who tested positive for coronavirus have recovered.

Here is some information about the new cases.

• 19 new cases in Bernalillo County
• 1 new case in Catron County
• 2 new cases in Cibola County
• 2 new cases in Curry County
• 3 new cases in Doña Ana County
• 1 new case in Grant County
• 4 new cases in McKinley County
• 1 new case in Otero County
• 3 new cases in Sandoval County
• 5 new cases in San Juan County
• 6 new cases in Santa Fe County
• 1 new case in Taos County

Here are the updated totals for coronavirus cases statewide.

• Bernalillo County: 148
• Catron County: 1
• Chaves County: 10
• Cibola County: 4
• Curry County: 5
• Doña Ana County: 21
• Eddy County: 4
• Grant County: 1
• Lea County: 2
• McKinley County: 20
• Otero County: 1
• Rio Arriba County: 4
• Roosevelt County: 1
• Sandoval County: 32
• San Juan County: 37
• San Miguel County: 1
• Santa Fe County: 48
• Socorro County: 3
• Taos County: 12
• Torrance County: 3
• Valencia County: 5

The NMDOH reminded residents it has detected community spread of the virus in New Mexico, meaning they've seen cases where the positive patient had no known coronavirus exposure.

The DOH said it continues to investigate cases using contact-tracing by monitoring individuals who may have come into contact with the positive patient.

On Tuesday, Health Secretary Kathy Kunkel announced the NMDOH was expanding criteria for coronavirus testing because of increased testing capacity. As of Wednesday the state has administered more than 14,000 tests.

According to the NMDOH, here's who can now be tested for the virus.

• Asymptomatic people who are close contacts or household members of New Mexico residents who have already tested positive for the coronavirus.
• Asymptomatic residents in nursing homes.
• Asymptomatic people in congregant settings such as homeless shelters, group homes, detention centers.
• Symptomatic people displaying the COVID-19 symptoms of cough, fever or shortness of breath.

A map of testing sites can be found on the NMDOH website at cv.nmhealth.org.

Michael McDevitt can be reached at 575-202-3205, mmcdevitt@lcsun-news.com or @MikeMcDTweets on Twitter.