NM COVID-19 Cases: 6,472

Health department reports 163 new cases and 11 more deaths

New Mexico health officials today announced 163 new positive COVID-19 test results, bringing the statewide total so far to 6,472.

Doña Ana County had the most new cases: 40, followed by 39 in McKinley County. In yesterday's press conference, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and health officials discussed rising cases in nearby El Paso, Texas and the threat they represent to Doña Ana County, as well as the rest of the state.

Cases also continue to rise among inmates as well as federal detainees at facilities across the state. There were four new cases among federal detainees at the ICE Otero County Processing Center, bringing the total there to 66. Earlier this week, US Sen. Tom Udall, D-NM, released a letter announcing that the Department of Homeland Security Inspector General  will conduct a review of US Immigration and Custom Enforcement's efforts to prevent and mitigate the spread of COVID-19 at its facilities. That letter followed a call by Udall and 26 other Democratic senators for the DHS IG to conduct a full assessment of ICE detention facilities nationwide.

"There is a long history of disease outbreaks in detention facilities and this is the first step toward ensuring that sufficient policies and practices are in place to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in ICE detention," Udall said in a statement.

The state also announced 19 new cases among New Mexico Corrections Department inmates at the Otero County Prison Facility and one new case of someone being held by federal agencies at the Otero County Prison Facility.

The state also reported 11 additional deaths, bringing the total fatalities to 294. The latest deaths were in Bernalillo, McKinley and San Juan counties and eight of them occurred in congregate living facilities.

As of today, 205 people are hospitalized.* The health department has designated 2,041 COVID-19 cases as recovered.

Today's report follows yesterday's news from the governor and health officials that the virus appears to have peaked. Partial reopenings began last weekend with retail and offices allowed to operate at 25% capacity. Further openings, such as restaurants, spas and gyms, are on track to reopen June 1.

New cases

  • 22 new cases in Bernalillo County
  • 2 new cases in Chaves County
  • 1 new case in Cibola County
  • 40 new cases in Doña Ana County
  • 3 new cases in Lea County
  • 39 new cases in McKinley County
  • 3 new cases in Rio Arriba County
  • 8 new cases in Sandoval County
  • 19 new cases in San Juan County
  • 1 new case in Santa Fe County
  • 1 new case in Valencia County
  • 4 new cases new cases among federal detainees at the ICE Otero County Processing Center
  • 1 new case among individuals held by federal agencies at the Otero County Prison Facility
  • 19 new cases among New Mexico Corrections Department inmates at the Otero County Prison Facility

New fatalities

  • A female in her 70s from Bernalillo County. The individual had underlying conditions and was a resident of Uptown Genesis in Albuquerque.
  • A female in her 80s from Bernalillo County. The individual had underlying conditions and was a resident of the Robin House Assisted Living Center in Albuquerque.
  • A male in his 80s from Bernalillo County. The individual had underlying conditions and was a resident of The Village at Alameda in Albuquerque.
  • A female in her 90s from Bernalillo County. The individual had underlying conditions and was a resident of The Village at Alameda in Albuquerque.
  • A female in her 40s from McKinley County. The individual was hospitalized and had underlying conditions.
  • A female in her 60s from McKinley County. The individual was hospitalized and had underlying conditions.
  • A male in his 70s from McKinley County. The individual had underlying conditions and was a resident of the Red Rocks Care Center in Gallup.
  • A female in her 90s from McKinley County. The individual had underlying conditions and was a resident of the Little Sisters of the Poor facility in Gallup.
  • A female in her 70s from San Juan County. The individual was hospitalized and had underlying conditions.
  • A female in her 80s from San Juan County. The individual was a resident of the Cedar Ridge Inn facility in Farmington.
  • A male in his 80s from San Juan County. The individual had underlying conditions and was a resident of the Cedar Ridge Inn facility in Farmington.

Congregate living facilities

The Department of Health has identified at least one positive COVID-19 case in residents and/or staff at the following congregate living and acute care facilities:
  • Advanced Health Care of Albuquerque in Albuquerque
  • Albuquerque Heights Healthcare and Rehab in Albuquerque
  • Aztec Health Care in Aztec
  • Beehive Homes in Farmington
  • Bonney Family Home in Gallup
  • Brio Assisted Living in Albuquerque
  • Casa Maria Health Care Center in Roswell
  • Cedar Ridge Inn in Farmington
  • Central Desert Behavioral Health in Albuquerque
  • Clayton Nursing and Rehab in Clayton
  • Dungarvin New Mexico, LLC in Gallup
  • Haciendas of Grace Village in Las Cruces
  • Heartland Continuing Care Center in Portales
  • Ladera Center in Albuquerque
  • Las Palomas Center in Albuquerque
  • 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
  • McKinley Care Center in Gallup
  • MorningStar Assisted Living & Memory Care of Santa Fe in Santa Fe
  • Namaste House Assisted Living in Farmington
  • The Neighborhood in Rio Rancho
  • Pacifica Senior Living Center Santa Fe in Santa Fe
  • Red Rocks Care Center in Gallup
  • Retirement Ranches, Inc. in Clovis
  • Robin House Assisted Living Center in Albuquerque
  • Sandia Ridge Center in Albuquerque
  • San Juan Center in Farmington
  • Spanish Trails Rehabilitation Suites in Albuquerque
  • Sundance Care Home in Gallup
  • Taos Living Center in Taos
  • Tohatchi Area Opportunity Services (TAOS) in Tohatchi
  • Tungland Corporation in Farmington
  • Uptown Genesis in Albuquerque
  • The Village at Alameda in Albuquerque
  • Wellbrook Transitional Rehabilitation Center in Farmington

Statewide cases

Previously reported numbers included nine cases that were identified as duplicates: three in Bernalillo County; four in McKinley County; one in Santa Fe County; one in Valencia County; and one case in San Juan County that was not lab confirmed. Previously reported numbers did not include two cases that were thought to be out-of-state residents that have since been determined to be in-state residents and have been added: one in San Juan County and one in Cibola County. According to the health department, these errors have now been corrected. County totals are subject to change upon further investigation and determination of residency of individuals positive for COVID-19.
  • Bernalillo County: 1,273
  • Catron County: 2
  • Chaves County: 34
  • Cibola County: 113
  • Colfax County: 5
  • Curry County: 44
  • Doña Ana County: 362
  • Eddy County: 17
  • Grant County: 16
  • Guadalupe County: 19
  • Harding County: 1
  • Hidalgo County: 1
  • Lea County: 21
  • Lincoln County: 3
  • Los Alamos County: 6
  • Luna County: 8
  • McKinley County: 2,044
  • Otero County: 8
  • Quay County: 5
  • Rio Arriba County: 36
  • Roosevelt County: 26
  • Sandoval County: 528
  • San Juan County: 1,451
  • San Miguel County: 10
  • Santa Fe County: 127
  • Sierra County: 1
  • Socorro County: 49
  • Taos County: 22
  • Torrance County: 19
  • Union County: 3
  • Valencia County: 69

People being held by federal agencies

  • Cibola County Correctional Center: 2
  • Otero County Prison Facility: 39
  • Otero County Processing Center: 66
  • Torrance County Detention Facility: 1

New Mexico Corrections inmates

  • Central New Mexico Correctional Facility in Valencia County: 1
  • Otero County Prison Facility: 40

*Per the health department, hospitalization figures include people who tested positive elsewhere but are hospitalized in New Mexico, but don’t include people who tested positive here but are hospitalized out of state.

Letters to the Editor

Mail letters to PO Box 4910 Santa Fe, NM 87502 or email them to editor[at]sfreporter.com. Letters (no more than 200 words) should refer to specific articles in the Reporter. Letters will be edited for space and clarity.

We also welcome you to follow SFR on social media (on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter) and comment there. You can also email specific staff members from our contact page.