New Mexico hospital leaders today said they are caring for record numbers of patients and implored residents to continue wearing masks, washing hands and socially distancing.
"We have to reduce infections so we can reduce hospitalizations and ultimately reduce deaths of New Mexicans," Lovelace Chief Medical Officer Dr. Vesta Sandoval said during a morning briefing with reporters and representatives from Lovelace, Presbyterian Medical and University of New Mexico Health Center. "We do not want to have to ration care."
Rationing care—in which scarce space and personnel potentially lead to some people not receiving medical attention—becomes a possibility if and when hospitals invoke crisis standards of care. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed an executive order Dec. 4 preparing for the possibility of those standards needing to be put in place.
As of today, 935 people are hospitalized with COVID-19.* But moving to crisis standards of care involves more than one number, Sandoval said. "It may not just be beds, it may be no ICU beds, or staffing constraints or additional equipment. It's a very extensive process of examining our ability to care for patients on a daily basis and it includes a lot of detail."
Hospital leaders today said they are not there yet, but "we have pushed the healthcare system in New Mexico to the brink," University of New Mexico Hospital Chief Medical Officer Dr. Irene Agostini said, noting that all the hospitals have worked to create additional space for patients, and brought in additional staff. "We have pushed it all to the limit. All of our people want to help and they want to be there for you, but all of our healthcare workers also have been working and working and working. And they will continue to work for you, but please please don't put us in that position to have to ration care," she said. "It is very difficult decision that no one wants to do. If you're on the battlefield, that's one thing [but] in a hospital, in New Mexico, we never want to do that to our people."
In Santa Fe County, Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center officials said they are "nowhere near" needing to invoke crisis standards of care, but Chief Medical Officer Dr. David Gonzales told SFR the hospital has been preparing for such a situation for many months. "Should that occur, we will be well prepared," Gonzales said. "What we've been doing is is engaging our ethical team and palliative care in all the decisions we're making in terms of the care of COVID patients…we want to make sure every decision we make is ethically sound."
While Christus isn't at capacity, Chief Nurse Executive Monica Leyba says it's at 94% capacity with critical care beds and at 93% capacity for its medical/surgical and progressive care areas. As for its COVID-19 area, approximately one month ago, four patients occupied the so-called "Frost" unit. Now there are 38. And while Santa Feans used to comprise approximately 30% of Christus' COVID patients, that has grown to more than half as local cases have risen.
Gonzales echoed his Albuquerque colleagues' call for continued and heightened adherence to avoiding the spread of COVID-19.
"Now more than ever is a time when we have to be vigilant with those mitigation efforts. Masks are more important and the importance of avoiding large gatherings…those mitigation effort we've been promoting are probably more important…especially with the holidays and Christmas. I'm fearful what we're going to see from Thanksgiving, so I'm hoping people really adhere to this."
New Mexico Human Services Department Cabinet Secretary David Scrase, Presbyterian Healthcare Services Medical Director Dr. Denise Gonzales and University of New Mexico Health System Vice Chancellor for Clinical Affairs Dr. Michael Richards will provide a COVID-19 Standards of Care webinar update at 10 am tomorrow, which will stream live on the New Mexico Human Services Department's Facebook page.
New Mexico health officials today reported 1,872 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the statewide total so far to 109,947. Of those, the health department has designated 38,131 as recovered.
Bernalillo County had 639 new cases, followed by Doña Ana County with 191 and Sandoval County with 134. Santa Fe County had 59 new cases today and the 87505 ZIP code did not appear on the top 10 list of highest hit zones in the state.
The number of establishments on the environment department's daily watchlist continues to decline with 148 places listed today as having had two or more rapid responses for employees testing positive for COVID-19 in the last 14 days (196 were on the list one week ago today). Of those, eight were in Santa Fe County (versus 17 a week ago).
The state also announced seven additional deaths, bringing the total number of fatalities to 1,756.
New cases
- 639 new cases in Bernalillo County
- 1 new case in Catron County
- 88 new cases in Chaves County
- 16 new cases in Cibola County
- 41 new cases in Colfax County
- 22 new cases in Curry County
- 1 new case in De Baca County
- 191 new cases in Doña Ana County
- 33 new cases in Eddy County
- 15 new cases in Grant County
- 6 new cases in Guadalupe County
- 3 new cases in Hidalgo County
- 91 new cases in Lea County
- 8 new cases in Lincoln County
- 6 new cases in Los Alamos County
- 19 new cases in Luna County
- 121 new cases in McKinley County
- 33 new cases in Otero County
- 2 new cases in Quay County
- 51 new cases in Rio Arriba County
- 8 new cases in Roosevelt County
- 134 new cases in Sandoval County
- 119 new cases in San Juan County
- 10 new cases in San Miguel County
- 59 new cases in Santa Fe County
- 4 new cases in Sierra County
- 4 new cases in Socorro County
- 16 new cases in Taos County
- 4 new cases in Torrance County
- 1 new case in Union County
- 92 new cases in Valencia County
- 26 new cases among individuals held by federal agencies at the Cibola County Correctional Center
- 1 new case among New Mexico Corrections Department inmates at the Guadalupe County Correctional Facility
- 2 new cases among New Mexico Corrections Department inmates at the Lea County Correctional Facility
- 5 new cases among New Mexico Corrections Department inmates at the Springer Correctional Center in Colfax County
New fatalities
- A male in his 60s from Bernalillo County who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions
- A female in her 50s from Curry County who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions
- A female in her 70s from Luna County who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions
- A male in his 60s from McKinley County who was hospitalized
- A female in her 60s 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 70s from Socorro County who 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
- Advantage Assisted Living in Rio Rancho
- Albuquerque Grand Senior Living
- 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 Alamogordo
- The Aristocrat Assisted Living Community in Las Cruces
- Aspen Care Assisted Living in Albuquerque
- Atria Vista Del Rio in Albuquerque
- Avamere at Fiesta Park in Albuquerque
- Avamere at Rio Rancho
- Avamere at Roswell
- Aztec Healthcare in Aztec
- Bear Canyon Rehabilitation Center in Albuquerque
- BeeHive Homes Deming
- BeeHive Homes Farmington
- BeeHive Homes Gallup
- BeeHive Homes Roswell
- BeeHive Homes Portales
- BeeHive Homes of San Pedro in Albuquerque
- Belen Meadows Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in Belen
- Blue Horizon Boutique Assisted Living & Memory Care in Las Cruces
- Brookdale Santa Fe
- Brookdale Tramway Ridge in Albuquerque
- Brookdale Valencia Albuquerque
- Buena Vista Senior Care in Albuquerque
- Calibre Sagecrest Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Las Cruces
- Camino Retirement Homes in Albuquerque
- Care Free Assisted Living in Albuquerque
- Casa Arena Blanca Nursing Center in Alamogordo
- Casa del Sol Center in Las Cruces
- Casa de Oro Center in Las Cruces
- Casa Palo Duro in Albuquerque
- Casa de Palomas in Albuquerque
- Casa de Paz in Rio Rancho
- Casa de Rosa in Albuquerque
- Casa Maria Health Care Center in Roswell
- Casa Mis Abuelos in Albuquerque
- Casa Real in Santa Fe
- Casa Sandia in Albuquerque
- Cedar Ridge Inn in Farmington
- Cielos Abiertos Assisted Living in Albuquerque
- Colfax Long Term Care Center in Springer
- Cuesta Manor in Albuquerque
- Desert Springs Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Hobbs
- El Castillo in Santa Fe
- Elite Senior Care Kathryn House in Albuquerque
- Fairwinds Assisted Living in Rio Rancho
- Fort Bayard Medical Center in Santa Clara
- Golden Hands Assisted Living in Albuquerque
- Good Life Senior Living in Lovington
- Good Life Senior Living in Artesia
- Good Life Senior Living in Carlsbad
- Good Life Senior Living in Hobbs
- Good Life Memory Care Los Lunas
- 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
- Good Samaritan Society Socorro
- Haciendas of Grace Village in Las Cruces
- Hannett House in Albuquerque
- Haven Care – Birch House in Albuquerque
- Haven Care – Cottonwood House in Albuquerque
- Haven Care – Fir House in Albuquerque
- Heartland Continuing Care Center in Portales
- Hilldale House in Albuquerque
- Ladera Center in Albuquerque
- Laguna Rainbow Care Center in Casa Blanca
- Lakeview Christian Home in Carlsbad
- Landmark at Desert Gardens in Hobbs
- Landsun Unit of Lakeview Christian Home in Carlsbad
- La Posada Assisted Living in Las Cruces
- Las Palomas Center in Albuquerque
- La Vida Llena Assisted Living in Albuquerque
- The Legacy at Santa Fe
- Life Spire Assisted Living Rio Rancho
- Life Spire Assisted Living Albuquerque
- Little Sisters of the Poor in Gallup
- Life Care Center in Farmington
- Lovington Healthcare in Lovington
- Kingston Residence of Santa Fe
- Mariah House in Albuquerque
- Mescalero Care Center in Mescalero
- Mimbres Memorial Nursing Home in Deming
- Mission Arch Center in Roswell
- The Montebello on Academy in Albuquerque
- The Montecito in Santa Fe
- MorningStar Assisted Living & Memory Care of Albuquerque
- MorningStar Assisted Living & Memory Care of Rio Rancho
- Mountain View Manor in Albuquerque
- The Neighborhood in Rio Rancho
- 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
- Pueblo of Isleta Assisted Living & Memory Care Facility
- Ravenna Assisted Living in Albuquerque
- Red Rocks Care Center in Gallup
- The Rehabilitation Center of Albuquerque
- Retirement Ranches in Clovis
- Retreat Healthcare in Rio Rancho
- The Rio at Las Estancias in Albuquerque
- Rio Rancho Center
- Sandia Ridge Center in Albuquerque
- Sandia Senior Suites in Albuquerque
- Sandia View Cottonwood Assisted Living in Albuquerque
- Senior Living Systems in Los Lunas
- Shady Pines Assisted Living in Albuquerque
- Sierra Healthcare Center in Truth or Consequences
- Sierra Vista Retirement Community in Santa Fe
- 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’s Healthcare in Clovis
- Sunny Day Assisted Living in Gallup
- Sunshine Assisted Living in Tucumcari
- The Suites at Rio Vista in Rio Rancho
- Sunset Villa Care Center in Roswell
- Taos Living Center
- Tender Heart Assisted Living in Albuquerque
- Tercer Cielo Assisted Living in Albuquerque
- Uptown Rehabilitation Center in Albuquerque
- Vida Encantada Nursing and Rehabilitation in Las Vegas
- The Village at Alameda in Albuquerque
- The Village at Northrise in Las Cruces
- Village Retirement Community in Roswell
- Vista Hermosa in Santa Fe
- Vista Sandia Assisted Living in Albuquerque
- The Watermark at Cherry Hills in Albuquerque
- Welbrook Senior Living Las Cruces
- West Ridge Village in Albuquerque
- Wheatfields Senior Living Community in Clovis
- White Sands Healthcare in Hobbs
- Willow Manor in Deming
- Willow Wood Assisted Living in Albuquerque
Statewide cases
According to a state news release, previously reported numbers included 10 cases that have been identified as duplicates (seven in Bernalillo County and three in Doña Ana County) and three cases that were not lab confirmed (one in Bernalillo County and two in Santa Fe County); these have now been corrected. Previously reported numbers included 12 cases previously reported in various counties that have since been determined to be among New Mexico Corrections Department inmates at the Penitentiary of New Mexico in Santa Fe County (two in Bernalillo County, one in Chaves County and one in Cibola County, one in Doña Ana County, four in Santa Fe County and three in Valencia County) and are now reported as such. County totals are subject to change upon further investigation and determination of residency of individuals positive for COVID-19.
- Bernalillo County: 30,968
- Catron County: 49
- Chaves County: 5,449
- Cibola County: 1,801
- Colfax County: 325
- Curry County: 3,441
- De Baca County: 68
- Doña Ana County: 14,777
- Eddy County: 3,315
- Grant County: 569
- Guadalupe County: 177
- Harding County: 6
- Hidalgo County: 196
- Lea County: 4,924
- Lincoln County: 881
- Los Alamos County: 184
- Luna County: 2,080
- McKinley County: 7,751
- Mora County: 53
- Otero County: 1,678
- Quay County: 284
- Rio Arriba County: 1,544
- Roosevelt County: 1,115
- Sandoval County: 6,001
- San Juan County: 6,906
- San Miguel County: 512
- Santa Fe County: 5,840
- Sierra County: 422
- Socorro County: 702
- Taos County: 938
- Torrance County: 383
- Union County: 148
- Valencia County: 3,615
Cases among people being held by federal agencies
- Cibola County Correctional Center: 413
- Otero County Prison Facility: 428
- Otero County Processing Center: 194
- Torrance County Detention Facility: 45
Cases among people being held by the New Mexico Department of Corrections
- Central New Mexico Correctional Facility in Valencia County: 225
- Guadalupe County Correctional Facility: 112
- Lea County Correctional Facility: 150
- Northeast New Mexico Correctional Facility in Union County: 120
- Northwest New Mexico Correctional Center in Cibola County: 94
- Otero County Prison Facility: 473
- Penitentiary of New Mexico in Santa Fe County: 129
- Roswell Correctional Center: 224
- Southern New Mexico Correctional Facility in Doña Ana County: 177
- Springer Correctional Center in Colfax County: 57
- 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.
