COVID-19 in New Mexico: State passes 3,000 cases, 2 new deaths reported

Las Cruces Sun-News

SANTA FE — New Mexico state health officials announced Wednesday that coronavirus cases within the state had risen to 3,213. Rural McKinley County has 133 new cases — more than half of the state's 239 new cases.

The state has now tested more than 65,000 people for the virus.

The state reported two additional deaths from the novel coronavirus, bringing the state total up to 112.

The New Mexico Department of Health reported that, as of Wednesday, 163 people hospitalized in New Mexico for COVID-19 — though they might not have necessarily tested positive within the state — and 734 people have been designated as having recovered from the virus.

The most recent cases are:

27 new cases in Bernalillo County
1 new case in Cibola County
1 new case in Doña Ana County
1 new case in Guadalupe County
1 new case in Luna County
133 new cases in McKinley County
1 new case in Otero County
2 new cases in Sandoval County
68 new cases in San Juan County
1 new case in Sierra County
1 new case in Socorro County
2 new cases in Valencia County

Here's some more information about the latest reported deaths:

A female in her 50s from McKinley County. The individual was hospitalized.
A male in his 50s from Sandoval County.

The Department of Health has identified positive COVID-19 cases in residents and/or staff at 17 congregate living and acute care facilities in the state. They are:

Advanced Health Care of Albuquerque in Albuquerque
Aztec Health Care in Aztec
Beehive Homes in Farmington
Cedar Ridge Inn in Farmington
Central Desert Behavioral Health in Albuquerque
Clayton Nursing and Rehab in Clayton
La Vida Llena in Albuquerque
Legacy Santa Fe in Santa Fe
Life Care Center of Farmington in Farmington
Little Sisters of the Poor in Gallup
The Neighborhood in Rio Rancho
Red Rocks Care Center in Gallup
Sundance Care Home in Gallup
Tohatchi Area Opportunity Services (TAOS) in Tohatchi
Uptown Genesis in Albuquerque
The Village at Alameda in Albuquerque
Wellbrook Rehabilitation Center in Farmington

By county, positive tests include:

Bernalillo County: 765
Catron County: 1
Chaves County: 22
Cibola County: 47
Colfax County: 5
Curry County: 13
Doña Ana County: 130
Eddy County: 12
Grant County: 14
Guadalupe County: 14
Harding County: 1
Lea County: 10
Lincoln County: 2
Los Alamos County: 6
Luna County: 4
McKinley County: 953
Otero County: 5
Quay County: 4
Rio Arriba County: 14
Roosevelt County: 8
Sandoval County: 385
San Juan County: 576
San Miguel County: 2
Santa Fe County: 98
Sierra County: 1
Socorro County: 42
Taos County: 17
Torrance County: 15
Union County: 3
Valencia County: 44

The Department of Health has detected community spread in the state of New Mexico and is investigating cases with no known exposure.

New Mexicans who report symptoms of COVID-19 infection, such as fever, cough, or shortness of breath, should call their health care provider or the NMDOH COVID-19 hotline at 1-855-600-3453.

The following people may now be considered for COVID-19 testing:

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.

New Mexicans who have non-health-related questions or concerns can also call 833-551-0518 or visit newmexico.gov.

Damien Willis is a Lead Reporter for the Las Cruces Sun-News. He can be reached at 575-541-5443, dwillis@lcsun-news.com or @DamienWillis on Twitter.