New Mexico Reports 1,259 COVID-19 Cases and 21 More Deaths |

New Mexico health officials today reported 1,259 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the statewide total so far to 65,454.

Bernalillo County had 374 new cases, followed by Doña Ana County with 203 and Santa Fe County with 91.

The new numbers arrive on the first day of a two-week health order that closes some businesses, limits capacity at others and closes on-site dining for restaurants, among other provisions.

As for businesses, the environment department this afternoon released its daily "watchlist" of the 217 New Mexico establishments that have had more than two rapid responses for COVID-19 cases among employees within the last 14 days—a 38% increase from one week ago.

Today's list includes 17 spots in Santa Fe, three of which have been closed for 14 days following four or more rapid responses in 14 days, as required by the state. They include Chaparral Materials Inc., Ranch House and Target. Several others may now qualify to be closed with four rapid responses, including the Walmart Supercenter and the Smith's at 2308 Cerrillos Road.

The National Retail Federation last week filed an Inspection of Public Records Act request with the state seeking more information on how the criteria had been set for the rapid response closure protocols, which were implemented in October.

"Since the onset of the pandemic early this year, New Mexican retailers have made the safety and security of their customers, employees and local communities their highest priority," NRF Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel Stephanie Martz said in a statement. "Retailers across the state need and deserve a transparent process for re-opening and maintaining business operations. Furthermore, the state's new measures burden rural communities by decreasing access to essential items if local businesses are ordered closed."

An NRF spokeswoman tells SFR the organization has not yet received the documents requested.

In a news conference this afternoon, Public Education Secretary Ryan Stewart said schools with more than two rapid responses within 14 days also will now begin appearing on the state's watchlist in the coming days. An environment department spokeswoman confirms that currently the watchlist contains only establishments for which the environment department conducts rapid responses. "We will continue to work to integrate other agency rapid responses into the Watchlist," she said, "but want to ensure that data collection is consistent and accurate before doing so." Schools with more than four rapid responses within 14 days will be closed until the county "turns green," Stewart said, meaning meets all the criteria set for school re-openings (currently only Mora and Catron counties are doing so).

Stewart emphasized the criticality of the next two weeks on public schools' ability to offer some in-person classes. Schools already offering some form of in-person learning through the state's hybrid model are allowed to continue doing so for now. "As we've gone through the spike in the pandemic and seen the surge and had to issue new orders, we've made protecting the current operating model of the schools a priority," Stewart said. "We haven't had to roll those back yet." But that could change. "If we don't start to trend in the right direction, if we don't start to get these case numbers down, get our positivity rates down, then we will be in a situation where we we'll have no a choice but to move all schools into remote learning," Stewart said. "We need to take every possible action that we can to limit the spread of this virus, to protect one another, to protect our communities, so that we're able to focus our priority on keeping our schools in session."

The state also announced 21 additional deaths today from 12 counties, ranging in age from their 20s to their 90s; there have now been 1,236 fatalities.

As discussed by Human Services Secretary David Scrase during last week's COVID-19 update, the health department today implemented a new system for reporting COVID-19 hospitalizations. Previously, numbers were derived through information from case investigators and contact tracing efforts. As of today, figures are based on daily data received from New Mexico hospitals. And, as of today, 738 people are hospitalized in New Mexico for COVID-19.Under the old reporting system, as of Sunday, the state had recorded 506 people as hospitalized.

Doctors from the University of New Mexico Health, Presbyterian and Lovelace Health System today reinforced Gov. Michelle Lujan's call last week for New Mexicans to avoid Thanksgiving gatherings with extended family or anyone outside the household.

Lovelace Chief Medical Officer Dr. Vesta Sandoval says hospitals continue to see increasing numbers of patients and all facilities have activated their "surge plans," created last spring, which contain contingencies should hospitals no longer have adequate space or staff to treat all patients.

Doctors from University of New Mexico Health, Presbyterian and Lovelace Health System provided an update on COVID-19 in the hospitals during a news conference Nov. 16.

"We do need the community's help to follow the governor's orders so we're able to continue having access for people who are coming in," Sandoval said, "whether they're having a baby, whether it's a car accident, whether it's a cardiac arrest…please help us flattening the curve."

Dr. Denise Gonzales, medical director at Presbyterian Healthcare Services, noted that healthcare professionals are seeing intensive care units fill beyond standard capacity. "We know these decisions were very difficult to make for our policy makers," Gonzales said. "We do think these new restrictions will have a positive impact on hospitalizations."

UNM Hospital Chief Quality and Safety Officer Dr. Rohini McKee acknowledged the "sacrifices" and challenges the pandemic has required and presented. "I understand because all of us who work here are members of our community and I understand how difficult it is to ask you to rethink your holiday traditions," she said. "But it's absolutely essential we pull together to think about how we can be safe over the holidays so we can protect the most vulnerable in our community and our health care workers."

All spoke of the strain the pandemic has placed on the system and healthcare workers.

"This whole situation prevents our patients from having their biggest support, their families, in the room with them," McKee said. "At the beginning of this surge, we saw less ICU patients, but as time has gone on, we're seeing those patients progressing to needing ICU levels of care. They're very sick when they are in the ICU and they need a lot of nursing attention and it leads to a lot of physical and emotional fatigue at the end of the day for our nursing staff."

New cases

374 new cases in Bernalillo County
1 new case in Catron County
88 new cases in Chaves County
16 new cases in Cibola County
5 new cases in Colfax County
40 new cases in Curry County
1 new case in De Baca County
203 new cases in Doña Ana County
48 new cases in Eddy County
12 new cases in Grant County
5 new cases in Hidalgo County
40 new cases in Lea County
5 new cases in Lincoln County
14 new cases in Luna County
52 new cases in McKinley County
47 new cases in Otero County
3 new cases in Quay County
18 new cases in Rio Arriba County
10 new cases in Roosevelt County
58 new cases in Sandoval County
40 new cases in San Juan County
6 new cases in San Miguel County
91 new cases in Santa Fe County
4 new cases in Sierra County
13 new cases in Socorro County
11 new cases in Taos County
10 new cases in Torrance County
3 new cases in Union County
35 new cases in Valencia County
4 new cases among New Mexico Corrections Department inmates at the Central New Mexico Correctional Facility in Valencia County
1 new case among New Mexico Corrections Department inmates at the Penitentiary of New Mexico in Santa Fe County
1 new case among New Mexico Corrections Department inmates at the Southern New Mexico Correctional Facility in Doña Ana County

New fatalities

A female in her 70s from Bernalillo County who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions
A female in her 80s from Curry County who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions
A male in his 40s from Doña Ana County who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions
A male in his 80s from Doña Ana County who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions
A male in his 60s from Eddy County who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions
A male in his 80s from Eddy County who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions
A male in his 20s from Luna County who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions
A female in her 60s from Luna County who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions
A second female in her 60s from Luna County who had underlying conditions
A female in her 60s from McKinley County who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions
A female in her 70s from McKinley County who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions
A male in his 70s from McKinley County who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions
A male in his 50s from Roosevelt County who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions
A female in her 50s from San Juan County who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions
A male in his 60s from San Juan County who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions
A male in his 90s from Santa Fe County who had underlying conditions
A female in her 50s from Socorro County who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions
A male in his 60s from Socorro County who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions
A male in his 70s from Taos County who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions
A male in his 70s from Valencia County who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions
A male in his 70s in Valencia County who was a New Mexico Corrections Department inmate at the Central New Mexico Correctional Facility in Valencia County

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
Advantage Assisted Living in Rio Rancho
Albuquerque Heights Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center
Albuquerque Uptown Assisted Living
The Aldea House – Heaven Sent LLC in Albuquerque
The Arbors of Del Rey in Las Cruces
Artesia Healthcare and Rehabilitation
The Aristocrat Assisted Living Community in Las Cruces
Atria Vista Del Rio in Albuquerque
Avamere at Fiesta Park in Albuquerque
Avamere at Rio Rancho
Aztec Healthcare in Aztec
Bear Canyon Rehabilitation Center in Albuquerque
BeeHive Homes Raton
BeeHive Homes Deming
BeeHive Homes Farmington
Belen Meadows Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in Belen
Bloomfield Nursing and Rehabilitation in Bloomfield
Blue Horizon Boutique Assisted Living & Memory Care in Las Cruces
Brookdale Santa Fe
Brookdale Tramway Ridge in Albuquerque
Brookdale Valencia Albuquerque
Calibre Sagecrest Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Las Cruces
Camino Retirement Homes in Albuquerque
Carefree Assisted Living in Albuquerque
Casa del Sol Center in Las Cruces
Casa de Oro Center in Las Cruces
Casa de Palomas in Albuquerque
Casa Maria Health Care Center in Roswell
Casa de Paz in Rio Rancho
Casa Real in Santa Fe
Cedar Ridge Inn in Farmington
Clayton Nursing and Rehabilitation in Clayton
Clovis Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in Clovis
Cuesta Manor in Albuquerque
Desert Springs Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Hobbs
El Castillo in Santa Fe
Elmcroft of Quintessence in Albuquerque
Fairwinds Assisted Living in Rio Rancho
Fort Bayard Medical Center in Santa Clara
Good Life Senior Living in Carlsbad
Good Life Senior Living in Hobbs
Good Life Senior Living in Lovington
Good Samaritan Society – Manzano del Sol Village in Albuquerque
Good Samaritan Society Betty Dare in Alamogordo
Good Samaritan Society Grants
Good Samaritan Society Las Cruces
Grace Adult Care Homes in Albuquerque
Haciendas of Grace Village in Las Cruces
Heartland Continuing Care Center in Portales
Ladera Center in Albuquerque
Laguna Rainbow Care Center in Casa Blanca
Lakeview Christian Home in Carlsbad
Landmark at Desert Gardens in Hobbs
Las Palomas Center in Albuquerque
La Vida Llena Assisted Living in Albuquerque
The Legacy at Santa Fe
Life Spire Assisted Living Rio Rancho
Little Sisters of the Poor in Gallup
Lotus Care Homes Galaxia in Albuquerque
Life Care Center in Farmington
Lovington Healthcare in Lovington
Kingston Residence of Santa Fe
Mariah House in Albuquerque
Mescalero Care Center in Mescalero
Mi Casa Bonita in Santa Fe
Mimbres Nursing Home in Deming
Mission Arch Center in Roswell
The Neighborhood in Rio Rancho
The New Beginnings Senior Living in Albuquerque
New Mexico State Veterans Home in Truth or Consequences
North Ridge Care Center in Albuquerque
Odelia Healthcare (Camino Healthcare) in Albuquerque
Pacifica Senior Living in Santa Fe
Palmilla Senior Living in Albuquerque
Princeton Place in Albuquerque
Ravenna Assisted Living in Albuquerque
Red Rocks Care Center in Gallup
Retirement Ranches in Clovis
Retreat Healthcare in Rio Rancho
The Rio Las Estancias in Albuquerque
Rio Rancho Center
Sandia Ridge Center in Albuquerque
Sandia Senior Suites in Albuquerque
Sandia View West in Rio Rancho
Sierra Healthcare Center in Truth or Consequences
Silver City Care Center in Silver City
Skies Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in Albuquerque
Sombrillo Nursing and Rehabilitation in Los Alamos
South Valley Care Center in Albuquerque
Spanish Trails Rehabilitation Suites in Albuquerque
St. Anthony Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in Clovis
Stardust Assisted Living in Albuquerque
The Suites at Rio Vista in Rio Rancho
Sunset Villa Care Center in Roswell
Taos Living Center
Tercer Cielo Assisted Living in Albuquerque
Uptown Rehabilitation Center in Albuquerque
Village Retirement Community in Roswell
Vista Hermosa in Santa Fe
The Watermark at Cherry Hills in Albuquerque
Welbrook Senior Living Farmington
Welbrook Senior Living Las Cruces
Wheatfields Senior Living Community in Clovis
White Sands Healthcare in Hobbs

Statewide cases

According to a state news release, previously reported numbers included one case in Bernalillo County that has been identified as a duplicate and five cases that were not lab confirmed (one in Bernalillo County, one in Cibola County, one in Eddy County, one in Otero County and one in Sandoval 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: 16,821
Catron County: 15
Chaves County: 3,153
Cibola County: 1,002
Colfax County: 91
Curry County: 2,358
De Baca County: 24
Doña Ana County: 10,015
Eddy County: 2,178
Grant County: 304
Guadalupe County: 68
Harding County: 4
Hidalgo County: 148
Lea County: 3,003
Lincoln County: 523
Los Alamos County: 87
Luna County: 1,542
McKinley County: 5,328
Mora County: 20
Otero County: 880
Quay County: 153
Rio Arriba County: 788
Roosevelt County: 733
Sandoval County: 3,041
San Juan County: 4,476
San Miguel County: 291
Santa Fe County: 3,205
Sierra County: 200
Socorro County: 405
Taos County: 469
Torrance County: 175
Union County: 55
Valencia County: 1,631

Cases among people being held by federal agencies

Cibola County Correctional Center: 348
Otero County Prison Facility: 419
Otero County Processing Center: 191
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: 184
Guadalupe County Correctional Facility: 10
Lea County Correctional Facility: 113
Northeast New Mexico Correctional Facility in Union County: 13
Northwest New Mexico Correctional Center in Cibola County: 38
Otero County Prison Facility: 472
Penitentiary of New Mexico in Santa Fe County: 73
Roswell Correctional Center: 219
Southern New Mexico Correctional Facility in Doña Ana County: 138
Springer Correctional Center in Colfax County: 1
Western New Mexico Correctional Facility in Cibola County: 5

*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.

New Mexico Reports 1,259 COVID-19 Cases and 21 More Deaths

Hospital doctors echo gov's call for New Mexicans to forego Thanksgiving