New Mexico health officials today reported 1,287 new COVID-19 cases, a record high for new daily cases, bringing the statewide total so far to 52,394.
Bernalillo County had 342 new cases, followed by Doña Ana County with 262. Santa Fe County had the third highest number of new cases today: 96, one shy of its highest number, hit earlier this week.
According to a news release from the health department today, the state's COVID hotline (1-855-600-3453)—which is intended to provide general information—has been instead been receiving increasing calls from people with severe COVID-19 symptoms.
"People experiencing severe difficulty breathing or other symptoms that make it difficult to care for themselves at home should not wait for a consultation from the hotline," Acting State Epidemiologist Chad Smelser said in a statement. "The call center staff have had a surge in calls that need to be re-directed to 911. It is imperative that anyone struggling with the disease seeks evaluation and care from a medical facility."
Smelser also said in the news release the department had received reports that people are "going about their usual daily lives" after they get tested for COVID-19. Instead, he said, people should remain isolated until they receive their results. "If you are having symptoms or tested because of an exposure, you should assume that you are infectious and self-isolate even if your symptoms resolve. You can spread the virus without knowing you are positive and without having symptoms. The most powerful prevention tool is isolation and quarantine as early as possible to help reduce the spread of the disease."
The state also announced six additional deaths from Bernalillo, Doña Ana and Luna counties; there have now been 1,088 fatalities.
As of today, 402 people are hospitalized with COVID-19, with 77% of both general and ICU beds occupied by COVID and non-COVID patients in New Mexico hospitals.*
The new numbers come on the heels of a news conference yesterday during which Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, health officials and New Mexico doctors warned of dwindling capacity at hospitals across the state. Although the governor did not issue any further economic restrictions, she warned some could be coming if health officials don't see indications of lessening mobility followed by lowering case numbers.
The state Supreme Court yesterday issued its written opinion confirming state officials' authority to impose civil administrative penalties to enforce public health emergency orders restricting business operations. The case stems from a suit filed by 14 businesses last May against the governor, former Health Secretary Kathy Kunkel and Department of Public Safety Secretary Mark R. Shea.
The court ruled from the bench in the state's favor in August before issuing its unanimous written opinion this week. That opinion concludes the state Legislature gave the governor and state officials authority to enforce public health order restrictions under the Public Health Emergency Response Act, which includes a $5,000 per day fine for violations. That law requires the health department conduct an administrative hearing before imposing fines.
While the governor has not enhanced restrictions for businesses yet, the environment department's new watchlist of establishments with more than two rapid responses within 14 days has nearly doubled since Monday, when it listed 81 such places. As of today, the list names 156 businesses and other institutions, including 12 in Santa Fe. One of the businesses, Chaparral Materials, has had four rapid responses and was ordered to close for 14 days on Nov. 3, per the current public health order.
New cases
- 342 new cases in Bernalillo County
- 38 new cases in Chaves County
- 10 new cases in Cibola County
- 3 new cases in Colfax County
- 51 new cases in Curry County
- 262 new cases in Doña Ana County
- 29 new cases in Eddy County
- 4 new cases in Grant County
- 3 new cases in Guadalupe County
- 1 new case in Hidalgo County
- 38 new cases in Lea County
- 9 new cases in Lincoln County
- 2 new cases in Los Alamos County
- 37 new cases in Luna County
- 25 new cases in McKinley County
- 1 new case in Mora County
- 24 new cases in Otero County
- 2 new cases in Quay County
- 28 new cases in Rio Arriba County
- 26 new cases in Roosevelt County
- 67 new cases in Sandoval County
- 34 new cases in San Juan County
- 7 new cases in San Miguel County
- 96 new cases in Santa Fe County
- 4 new cases in Sierra County
- 14 new cases in Socorro County
- 6 new cases in Taos County
- 5 new cases in Torrance County
- 66 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
- 48 new cases among New Mexico Corrections Department inmates at the Roswell Correctional Center
New fatalities
- A male in his 60s from Bernalillo County. The individual was hospitalized.
- A second male in his 60s from Bernalillo County. The individual was hospitalized.
- A female in her 60s from Doña Ana County. The individual was hospitalized and had underlying conditions.
- A male in his 40s from Doña Ana County. The individual was hospitalized.
- A male in his 80s from Doña Ana County. The individual was hospitalized and had underlying conditions.
- A female in her 50s from Luna County. The individual was hospitalized.
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
- 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
- Aztec Healthcare in Aztec
- Bear Canyon Rehabilitation Center in Albuquerque
- 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 Valencia Albuquerque
- Calibre Sagecrest Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Las Cruces
- Casa del Sol Center in Las Cruces
- Casa de Oro Center in Las Cruces
- Casa Maria Health Care Center in Roswell
- Casa de Paz in Rio Rancho
- Casa Real in Santa Fe
- Clayton Nursing and Rehabilitation in Clayton
- Clovis Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in Clovis
- Colfax Long Term Care Center in Colfax
- 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 Lovington
- Good Samaritan Manzano Del Sol Independent Senior Living 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
- 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
- Mescalero Care Center in Mescalero
- Mi Casa Bonita in Santa Fe
- The Montebello on Academy in Albuquerque
- 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
- Palmilla Senior Living in Albuquerque
- Princeton Place in Albuquerque
- Red Rocks Care Center in Gallup
- The Rehabilitation Center of Albuquerque
- 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
- The Suites Rio Vista in Rio Rancho
- Sunset Villa Care Center in Roswell
- Taos Living Center
- 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 Las Cruces
- Westwind House Assisted Living in Albuquerque
- Wheatfields Senior Living Community in Clovis
- White Sands Healthcare in Hobbs
Statewide cases
According to a state news release, previously reported numbers included three cases that have been identified as duplicates (two in Doña Ana County and one in Santa Fe County), which have been corrected. County totals are subject to change upon further investigation and determination of residency of individuals positive for COVID-19.
- Bernalillo County: 13,170
- Catron County: 10
- Chaves County: 2,414
- Cibola County: 768
- Colfax County: 52
- Curry County: 1,850
- De Baca County: 3
- Doña Ana County: 7,887
- Eddy County: 1,734
- Grant County: 227
- Guadalupe County: 52
- Harding County: 1
- Hidalgo County: 130
- Lea County: 2,438
- Lincoln County: 421
- Los Alamos County: 62
- Luna County: 1,338
- McKinley County: 4,911
- Mora County: 17
- Otero County: 645
- Quay County: 119
- Rio Arriba County: 616
- Roosevelt County: 579
- Sandoval County: 2,340
- San Juan County: 4,025
- San Miguel County: 221
- Santa Fe County: 2,244
- Sierra County: 151
- Socorro County: 310
- Taos County: 311
- Torrance County: 128
- Union County: 46
- Valencia County: 1,238
Cases among people being held by federal agencies
- Cibola County Correctional Center: 348
- Otero County Prison Facility: 399
- 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: 159
- Guadalupe County Correctional Facility: 1
- Lea County Correctional Facility: 113
- Northeast New Mexico Correctional Facility in Union County: 10
- Northwest New Mexico Correctional Center in Cibola County: 8
- Otero County Prison Facility: 472
- Penitentiary of New Mexico in Santa Fe County: 61
- Roswell Correctional Center: 70
- Southern New Mexico Correctional Facility in Doña Ana County: 55
- 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.
