New Mexico Reports 281 New COVID-19 Cases

Health officials announce two additional deaths from Lea County

New Mexico health officials today reported 281 new COVID-19 cases—the highest number of new cases since July—bringing the statewide total number of cases so far to 29,435.

The rising case numbers follow yesterday's presentation by Human Services Secretary David Scrase and this week's modeling report showing rising rates of infection and cases in all of New Mexico's public health regions. The statewide effective rate of transmission, as of today, is 1.30—the state has set 1.05 or less as a gating criteria for the pandemic. The daily-case rate over a rolling seven-day average currently is at 141, below the 168 target, but Scrase said yesterday he expects the state is likely to pass that target next week.

Bernalillo County led with today's new cases: 61 of them, followed by Doña Ana County with 41 and Curry County with 33. Santa Fe County had eight new cases today.

The Public Education Department announced seven new cases at public schools in Chaves, Doña Ana, Eddy, Lea, McKinley and Santa Fe County in the last 24 hours. PED does not disclose which school in its daily news releases; however, the Environment Department reported a rapid response at Acequia Madre Elementary School yesterday.

As far as other rapid responses, the state reported 248 of them last week, 25 more than the week prior. Santa Fe ranked sixth for its number of rapid responses—18—an improvement from the week prior when it ranked third. Bernalillo had 25% of the rapid responses, the most statewide.

The state also announced two additional deaths today from Lea County; there have now been 877 fatalities.

As of today, 85 people are hospitalized with COVID-19—five more than yesterday.* According to a weekly state epidemiology report on hospitalizations, New Mexico has thus far had 601 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 who died, or 19.2%.

New Mexico has thus far administered 921,009 tests; the chart below shows the percentage of people tested for COVID-19, by county.

New cases

  • 61 new cases in Bernalillo County
  • 31 new cases in Chaves County
  • 3 new cases in Cibola County
  • 33 new cases in Curry County
  • 41 new cases in Doña Ana County
  • 22 new cases in Eddy County
  • 2 new cases in Hidalgo County
  • 29 new cases in Lea County
  • 3 new cases in Lincoln County
  • 2 new cases in Luna County
  • 6 new cases in McKinley County
  • 2 new cases in Otero County
  • 1 new case in Rio Arriba County
  • 3 new cases in Roosevelt County
  • 8 new cases in Sandoval County
  • 16 new cases in San Juan County
  • 1 new case in San Miguel County
  • 8 new cases in Santa Fe County
  • 1 new case in Sierra County
  • 1 new case in Socorro County
  • 1 new case in Taos County
  • 2 new cases in Torrance County
  • 4 new cases in Valencia County

New fatalities

  • A male in his 80s from Lea County who was hospitalized
  • A second male in his 80s from Lea County who 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:

  • Aristocrat Assisted Living in Las Cruces
  • Atria Vista Del Rio in Albuquerque
  • Avamere at Rio Rancho
  • Bear Canyon Rehabilitation Center in Albuquerque
  • Belen Meadows Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in Belen
  • Brookdale Santa Fe
  • Camino Healthcare in Albuquerque
  • Casa Arena Blanca Nursing Center in Alamogordo
  • Casa de Oro Center in Las Cruces
  • Casa Maria Health Care Center in Roswell
  • Colfax Long Term Care Center in Springer
  • Good Life Senior Living in Lovington
  • Good Samaritan Society Las Cruces
  • Heartfelt Manor in Roswell
  • Laguna Rainbow Care in Casa Blanca
  • Lakeview Christian Home in Carlsbad
  • Las Palomas Center in Albuquerque
  • Lotus Care Homes in Albuquerque
  • Lovington Healthcare in Lovington
  • Princeton Place in Albuquerque
  • Raton Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Raton
  • The Rehab Center of Albuquerque in Albuquerque
  • Red Rocks Care Center in Gallup
  • Retirement Ranches in Clovis
  • San Juan Center in Albuquerque
  • Silver City Care Center in Silver City
  • Sunny Day Assisted Living in Gallup
  • Sunset Villa Nursing Home in Roswell
  • Tercer Cielo in Albuquerque
  • Village Retirement Community in Roswell
  • The Watermark at Cherry Hills in Albuquerque
  • Welbrook Senior Living Las Cruces

Statewide cases

According to a state news release, previously reported numbers included one case in Bernalillo County that was not lab confirmed and two cases that have been identified as out-of-state residents: one in Bernalillo County and one in Chaves County; these 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: 6,607
  • Catron County: 9
  • Chaves County: 1,222
  • Cibola County: 426
  • Colfax County: 36
  • Curry County: 851
  • De Baca County: 1
  • Doña Ana County: 3,428
  • Eddy County: 861
  • Grant County: 124
  • Guadalupe County: 34
  • Harding County: 2
  • Hidalgo County: 101
  • Lea County: 1,448
  • Lincoln County: 215
  • Los Alamos County: 33
  • Luna County: 424
  • McKinley County: 4,343
  • Mora County: 7
  • Otero County: 270
  • Quay County: 74
  • Rio Arriba County: 400
  • Roosevelt County: 285
  • Sandoval County: 1,375
  • San Juan County: 3,359
  • San Miguel County: 101
  • Santa Fe County: 1,028
  • Sierra County: 47
  • Socorro County: 107
  • Taos County: 146
  • Torrance County: 76
  • Union County: 31
  • Valencia County: 585

Cases among people being held by federal agencies

  • Cibola County Correctional Center: 324
  • Otero County Prison Facility: 285
  • Otero County Processing Center: 163
  • 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: 34
  • Lea County Correctional Facility: 49
  • Northeast New Mexico Correctional Facility in Union County: 1
  • Northwest New Mexico Correctional Center in Cibola County: 1
  • Otero County Prison Facility: 472
  • Penitentiary of New Mexico in Santa Fe County: 1
  • Southern New Mexico Correctional Facility in Doña Ana 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.

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