NM Health Secretary Issues COVID-19 Rules for Polling Places

Polling places open for the Nov. 3 general election are subject to several social-distancing mandates following a public health order issued this week by Health Secretary Kathy Kunkel.

These include limiting capacity within polling locations to 25% of the maximum occupancy or four voters at any one time, whichever is greater. Mobile polling locations can only allow only two voters at a time. All polling locations must ensure voters don't come within 6 feet of one another—either inside or outside. Election staff are required to wash and sanitize both their hands as well as surfaces and writing implements.

The new public health order for polling places arrives as New Mexico enters the long Labor Day weekend, and officials issued a series of recommendations to avoid a spike in COVID-19 cases following the holiday.

"New Mexico has made great progress in the fight against COVID-19—but sustaining that progress depends on each and every New Mexican's actions," Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said in a statement. "Celebrating a COVID-safe Labor Day weekend is key to keeping the spread of the virus low and ensuring kids are able to safely go back to school this year. I ask New Mexicans to please not let their guard down—continue wearing masks and avoiding gatherings."

Today, health officials reported 96 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the statewide total number of cases so far to 25,902.

Bernalillo County led with 13 new cases, followed by Chaves and Doña Ana County, each with 13 new cases. Santa Fe County had the third highest number of new cases today: 10.

The state also announced three more deaths from Bernalillo, Chaves and Roosevelt counties. There have now been 794 total fatalities.

As of today, 69 people are hospitalized with COVID-19.*

New cases

• 16 new cases in Bernalillo County
• 13 new cases in Chaves County
• 1 new case in Colfax County
• 9 new cases in Curry County
• 13 new cases in Doña Ana County
• 8 new cases in Eddy County
• 8 new cases in Lea County
• 1 new case in Luna County
• 3 new cases in McKinley County
• 1 new case in Quay County
• 1 new case in Roosevelt County
• 2 new cases in Sandoval County
• 5 new cases in San Juan County
• 1 new case in San Miguel County
• 10 new cases in Santa Fe County
• 4 new cases in Valencia County

New fatalities

• A female in her 70s from Bernalillo County. The individual was hospitalized and had underlying conditions.
• A male in his 70s from Chaves County. The individual was hospitalized and had underlying conditions.
• A female in her 50s from Roosevelt County. The individual was hospitalized and had underlying conditions.

Congregate facilities

The Department of Health has identified at least one positive COVID-19 case in residents and/or staff in the past 28 days at the following facilities:

• Adobe Assisted Living in Las Cruces
• Albuquerque Heights Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in Albuquerque
• Atria Vista del Rio in Albuquerque
• Avamere at Roswell in Roswell
• Bear Canyon Rehabilitation Center in Albuquerque
• Bloomfield Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Bloomfield
• Brookdale Santa Fe
• Camino Healthcare in Albuquerque
• Casa del Sol Center in Las Cruces
• Casa de Paz Senior Assisted Living in Rio Rancho
• Casa Maria Health Care Center in Roswell
• Desert Springs Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Hobbs
• Good Samaritan Society Las Cruces
• Good Samaritan Society – Manzano del Sol Village in Albuquerque
• Good Samaritan Society Socorro
• Harmony Residential Care in Rio Rancho
• Heritage Assisted Living in Las Cruces
• Ladera Center in Albuquerque
• Lakeview Christian Home in Carlsbad
• Las Palomas Center in Albuquerque
• Life Care Center of Farmington
• LifeSpire Assisted Living in Albuquerque
• Lovington Healthcare in Lovington
• Mescalero Care Center in Mescalero
• Mission Arch Center in Roswell
• The Neighborhood in Rio Rancho
• New Mexico State Veterans’ Home in Truth or Consequences
• North Ridge Alzheimer’s Special Care Center in Albuquerque
• Pacifica Senior Living in Santa Fe
• Palmilla Senior Living in Albuquerque
• Princeton Place in Albuquerque
• Ravenna Assisted Living in Albuquerque
• The Rehab Center of Albuquerque in Albuquerque
• Retirement Ranches in Clovis
• The Rio at Las Estancias in Albuquerque
• Rio Rancho Center in Rio Rancho
• Saint Anthony Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in Clovis
• Sagecrest Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Las Cruces
• Sandia Ridge Center in Albuquerque
• San Juan Center in Farmington
• Sombrillo Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Los Alamos
• Spanish Trails Rehabilitation Suites in Albuquerque
• Tender Heart Assisted Living in Albuquerque
• Welbrook Senior Living Las Cruces
• West Ridge Village in Albuquerque
• Wheatfields Senior Living in Clovis

Statewide cases

According to a state news release, previously reported numbers included five cases that have been identified as duplicates (one in Chaves County, one in Luna County, two in McKinley County and one in Valencia County) and one case in Chaves County that was not lab confirmed. County totals are subject to change upon further investigation and determination of residency of individuals positive for COVID-19.

• Bernalillo County: 5,914
• Catron County: 9
• Chaves County: 787
• Cibola County: 399
• Colfax County: 23
• Curry County: 703
• Doña Ana County: 2,933
• Eddy County: 553
• Grant County: 84
• Guadalupe County: 32
• Harding County: 2
• Hidalgo County: 98
• Lea County: 1,178
• Lincoln County: 173
• Los Alamos County: 27
• Luna County: 321
• McKinley County: 4,230
• Mora County: 6
• Otero County: 227
• Quay County: 64
• Rio Arriba County: 361
• Roosevelt County: 206
• Sandoval County: 1,259
• San Juan County: 3,206
• San Miguel County: 86
• Santa Fe County: 849
• Sierra County: 38
• Socorro County: 78
• Taos County: 118
• Torrance County: 63
• Union County: 31
• Valencia County: 523

Cases among people being held by federal agencies

• Cibola County Correctional Center: 324
• Otero County Prison Facility: 281
• Otero County Processing Center: 159
• Torrance County Detention Facility: 44

Cases among people being held by the New Mexico Department of Corrections

• Central New Mexico Correctional Facility in Valencia County: 29
• Lea County Correctional Facility: 4
• Northeast New Mexico Correctional Facility in Union County: 1
• Northwest New Mexico Correctional Center in Cibola County: 1
• Otero County Prison Facility: 473
• Penitentiary of New Mexico in Santa Fe County: 1
• Western New Mexico Correctional Facility in Cibola County: 4

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