Chaves, Curry counties add COVID-19 cases

SANTA FE – New Mexico state health officials on Thursday announced 124 additional positive tests for COVID-19.

Per the state Department of Health, the most recent cases are:

• 45 new cases in Bernalillo County
• 2 new cases in Chaves County
• 5 new cases in Cibola County
• 1 new case in Colfax County
• 1 new case in Curry County
• 5 new cases in Doña Ana County
• 2 new cases in Los Alamos County
• 13 new cases in McKinley County
• 9 new cases in San Juan County
• 31 new cases in Sandoval County
• 3 new cases in Santa Fe County
• 2 new cases in Socorro County
• 1 new case in Taos County
• 1 new case in Torrance County
• 3 new cases in Valencia County

The Department of Health on Thursday also reported one additional death in New Mexico related to COVID-19.

That case is:

• ​A female in her 80s from Bernalillo County. The individual had underlying medical conditions and was a resident at the La Vida Llena long-term care facility in Albuquerque.

The three deaths reported Wednesday, April 8, were also residents at the La Vida Llena long-term care facility in Albuquerque, bringing the total number of deaths of residents at the facility related to COVID-19​ to 6.

The number of deaths in the state related to COVID-19 is now 17.

Including the above newly reported cases, New Mexico has now had a total of 989 positive tests for COVID-19:

Bernalillo County: 369

Catron County: 1

Chaves County: 18

Cibola County: 21

Colfax County: 1

Curry County: 9

Doña Ana County: 44

Eddy County: 6

Grant County: 4

Lea County: 2

Lincoln County: 1

Los Alamos County: 4

McKinley County: 84

Otero County: 3

Rio Arriba County: 7

Roosevelt County: 1

Sandoval County: 174

San Juan County: 126

San Miguel County: 1

Santa Fe County: 70

Socorro County: 9

Taos County: 15

Torrance County: 8

Valencia County: 11

County totals remain subject to change upon further investigation and determination of residency of individuals positive for COVID-19.

As of today, there are 73 individuals hospitalized in New Mexico for COVID-19. This number may include individuals who tested positive for COVID-19 out of state but are currently hospitalized in New Mexico. This number does not include New Mexicans who tested positive for COVID-19 and may have been transferred to a hospital out of state.

As of today, there are 217 COVID-19 cases designated as having recovered by the New Mexico Department of Health.

The Department of Health has detected community spread in Bernalillo, Doña Ana, McKinley, Otero, Sandoval, San Juan, and Santa Fe counties and is investigating cases with no known exposure. The agency reports that given the infectious nature of the virus it is likely other residents are infected but yet to be tested or confirmed positive. To that end, all New Mexicans have been instructed to stay home except for outings absolutely necessary for health, safety and welfare. These additional restrictions have been enacted to aggressively minimize person-to-person contact and ensure spread is mitigated. All businesses except those deemed essential have been ordered to close. New Mexicans are strongly urged to limit travel to only what is necessary for health, safety and welfare.

The New Mexico Department of Health has active investigations into the positive patients, which includes contact-tracing and swabs of symptomatic individuals who have had contact with the positive cases.

Every New Mexican must work together to stem the spread of COVID-19. Stay home.

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 immediately (1-855-600-3453).

Thanks to increased statewide testing capacity, the following people may now be considered for COVID-19 testing: