FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Nora Meyers Sackett
Press Secretary, Office of the Governor
(505) 690-7313
April 16, 2020
Update includes eight additional deaths related to COVID-19
SANTA FE – New Mexico state health officials on Thursday announced 116 additional positive tests for COVID-19.
Per the state Department of Health, the most recent cases are:
- 17 new cases in Bernalillo County
- 1 new case in Cibola County
- 1 new case in Colfax County
- 4 new cases in Doña Ana County
- 1 new case in Grant County
- 1 new case in Luna County
- 23 new cases in McKinley County
- 31 new cases in Sandoval County
- 29 new cases in San Juan County
- 1 new case in Santa Fe
- 4 new cases in Socorro County
- 3 new cases in Valencia County
The Department of Health on Thursday also reported 8 additional deaths in New Mexico related to COVID-19.
Those cases are:
- A female in her 80s from Bernalillo County. The individual had underlying medical conditions. The individual was a resident of the La Vida Llena facility in Albuquerque.
- A female in her 80s from Cibola County. The individual had underlying medical conditions.
- A female in her 30s from McKinley County. The individual was hospitalized and had underlying medical conditions.
- A male in his 50s from McKinley County.
- A male in his 30s from Sandoval County. The individual was hospitalized and had underlying medical conditions.
- A male in his 30s from San Juan County. The individual was hospitalized and had underlying medical conditions.
- A female in her 70s from San Juan County.
- A female in her 80s from San Juan County. The individual was hospitalized and had underlying medical conditions. The individual was a resident of the Life Care Center facility in Farmington.
The number of deaths of New Mexico residents related to COVID-19 is now 44.
The Department of Health has identified positive COVID-19 cases in residents and/or staff at the following congregate living facilities:
- Advanced Health Care of Albuquerque in Albuquerque
- Aztec Health Care in Aztec
- Beehive Homes in Farmington
- Central Desert Behavioral Health in Albuquerque
- La Vida Llena in Albuquerque
- Legacy Santa Fe in Santa Fe
- Life Care Center of Farmington in Farmington
- Uptown Genesis in Albuquerque
The case numbers reported previously included one duplicate from Bernalillo County and two cases from Bernalillo County that were not lab confirmed. Including the above newly reported cases, New Mexico has now had a total of 1,597 positive tests for COVID-19:
Bernalillo County: 491
Catron County: 1
Chaves County: 19
Cibola County: 30
Colfax County: 3
Curry County: 10
Doña Ana County: 58
Eddy County: 7
Grant County: 12
Lea County: 2
Lincoln County: 1
Los Alamos County: 6
Luna County: 3
McKinley County: 265
Otero County: 3
Quay County: 1
Rio Arriba County: 10
Roosevelt County: 1
Sandoval County: 293
San Juan County: 229
San Miguel County: 2
Santa Fe County: 79
Socorro County: 20
Taos County: 15
Torrance County: 12
Valencia County: 24
County totals are subject to change upon further investigation and determination of residency of individuals positive for COVID-19.
As of today, there are 90 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 353 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:
- Asymptomatic people who are close contacts or household members of New Mexico residents who have already tested positive for the coronavirus;
- Asymptomatic residents in nursing homes;
- Asymptomatic people in congregant settings such as homeless shelters, group homes, detention centers;
- Symptomatic people displaying the COVID-19 symptoms of cough, fever or shortness of breath.
New Mexicans who have non-health-related questions or concerns can also call 833-551-0518 or visit newmexico.gov, which is being updated regularly as a one-stop source for information for families, workers and others affected by and seeking more information about COVID-19.
The state Department of Health will update its dedicated COVID-19 webpage with additional tests as the state lab provides results.
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