October 30, 2020

NM reaches ‘grim milestone’ of 1,000 COVID-19 deaths on same day as single-day high number of deaths

The state of New Mexico crossed 1,000 deaths related to COVID-19 on Friday after it reported 13 new deaths on Friday, the most in a single day. The “grim milestone,” as it was called by the governor, came as the state experiences its highest numbers ever of cases and hospitalizations, and as deaths start to […]

Matthew Reichbach

The state of New Mexico crossed 1,000 deaths related to COVID-19 on Friday after it reported 13 new deaths on Friday, the most in a single day.

The “grim milestone,” as it was called by the governor, came as the state experiences its highest numbers ever of cases and hospitalizations, and as deaths start to increase as well.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham ordered flags flown at half staff for a week in mourning in recognition of the 1,000 deaths.

On Friday, the state reported 1,010 new confirmed cases in addition to the 13 deaths. Friday was the second straight day of 1,000 or more cases—before Thursday, the state had never reported even 900 cases in a single day.

“One thousand New Mexican lives lost is an unfathomable tragedy. For many months now, the daily drumbeat of a few more deaths, a few more deaths has served to diminish the acute feeling of loss,” Lujan Grisham said in a statement. “But it is tragic and real for me, every single day, because it is tragic and real for the New Mexican families with an empty seat at the table, a hole in their hearts that will never be filled. I pray for these families every single day. I ask you to please join me in praying for them – and acting to prevent any more needless loss.”

DOH has now identified 45,909 total confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 1,007 deaths related to the disease.

The number of hospitalizations for COVID-19 increased by 11 to 334 individuals.

This could include those who are hospitalized in New Mexico from other states, but would not include New Mexico residents who are hospitalized in other states. The number of those from other states has remained relatively low and health officials have said this is typically about the same number as New Mexicans who are hospitalized out of state.

In all, 78 percent of general beds at New Mexico hospitals and 75 percent of ICU beds are occupied, according to DOH. This includes those hospitalized for all reasons, not just COVID-19.

Bernalillo County had the most newly reported cases, with 335, followed by 248 cases in Doña Ana County. Both represented single-day records for the counties.

DOH also reported 45 new cases in Santa Fe County, 43 new cases in Luna County, 41 new cases in Valencia County.

In all, the state reported at least one case in 26 of the state’s 33 counties, including 16 with reported 10 or more cases.

Luna County, which has experienced a massive influx in cases in recent weeks, now has the second-most cases per capita of any county in the state, according to calculations by the Albuquerque Journal. While McKinley County still has the highest number of confirmed cases per capita, ten of the next 11 counties on the list are in southern or eastern New Mexico.

DOH released some information on each of the 13 deaths related to COVID-19 announced on Friday.

A female in her 20s from Bernalillo County who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions.
A female in her 30s from Bernalillo County who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions.
A female in her 70s from Bernalillo County who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions.
A female in her 80s from Bernalillo County who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions.
A female in her 20s from Cibola County who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions.
A male in his 60s from Doña Ana County who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions.
A male in his 80s from Doña Ana County who was hospitalized.
A female in her 50s from Eddy County who had underlying conditions.
A male in his 60s from Luna County who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions.
A male in his 60s from Sandoval County who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions.
A male in his 80s from Santa Fe County who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions. He was a resident of the Kingston Residence of Santa Fe facility.
A male in his 60s from Socorro County who was hospitalized.
A male in his 70s from Socorro County who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions.

As usual, DOH did not disclose which underlying conditions any of the deceased had, only if one was present. According to the latest state epidemiology report, the most common underlying condition among those who have died in New Mexico so far is cardiovascular disease, followed by diabetes and hypertension. Some who have died had multiple conditions.

DOH has designated 21,491 COVID-19 cases as recovered, an increase of 102 since Thursday’s announcement.

Gating criteria

While nearly all signs for New Mexico are negative, the rate of spread—or the number of people who each COVID-19 positive individual will spread the disease to on average—has dropped from its record highs. The rate of spread, as of Oct. 29 was 1.15, and it even dipped below the state’s 1.05 gating criteria for the southeastern region of the state, at 1.01. The highest rate of spread is 1.27.

The average number of cases per day continues to hit new highs on a daily basis. The state uses the date specimens are collected—when individuals take the tests—which can lag by several days because some labs take longer to process the tests and report results to the state. As of Oct. 23, the seven-day rolling average is 791.

New Mexico continues to have a high number of tests, at 8,890 tests per day on a seven-day rolling average as of Oct. 29. There was a dip mid-week, possibly because of the winter storm that hit much of New Mexico.

The test positivity rate, which is calculated on a seven-day rolling average, hit 10 percent as of Oct. 29. This is calculated on the date of specimen collection.

Testing details

The state coronavirus information page said that, as of Friday, the state had processed 1,161,887 COVID-19 tests, an increase of 8,702 tests since Thursday.

The test positivity rate among the test results reported Friday was 11.61 percent. This is different than the positivity rate used as gating criteria, since it uses the date the results are released.

DOH also provided the number of newly reported cases by county.

335 new cases in Bernalillo County
29 new cases in Chaves County
28 new cases in Cibola County
1 new case in Colfax County
19 new cases in Curry County
248 new cases in Doña Ana County
18 new cases in Eddy County
3 new cases in Grant County
3 new cases in Guadalupe County
26 new cases in Lea County
3 new cases in Lincoln County
43 new cases in Luna County
33 new cases in McKinley County
21 new cases in Otero County
2 new cases in Quay County
7 new cases in Rio Arriba County
9 new cases in Roosevelt County
36 new cases in Sandoval County
28 new cases in San Juan County
5 new cases in San Miguel County
45 new cases in Santa Fe County
3 new cases in Sierra County
10 new cases in Socorro County
10 new cases in Taos County
3 new cases in Torrance County
41 new cases in Valencia County
1 new case among individuals held by federal agencies at the Otero County Prison Facility

DOH also provided the total number of cases by county, including those reported on Friday.

The department identified four previously reported cases as duplicates (two in Luna County, one in Eddy County and one in San Miguel County) and identified one previously reported case in Lea County as an out-of-state resident. These were corrected and removed from the state’s totals.

Bernalillo County: 11,451
Catron County: 10
Chaves County: 2,095
Cibola County: 635
Colfax County: 46
Curry County: 1,615
De Baca County: 2
Doña Ana County: 6,574
Eddy County: 1,522
Grant County: 194
Guadalupe County: 46
Harding County: 1
Hidalgo County: 122
Lea County: 2,202
Lincoln County: 387
Los Alamos County: 48
Luna County: 1,123
McKinley County: 4,707
Mora County: 15
Otero County: 547
Quay County: 106
Rio Arriba County: 520
Roosevelt County: 478
Sandoval County: 2,076
San Juan County: 3,833
San Miguel County: 186
Santa Fe County: 1,835
Sierra County: 119
Socorro County: 258
Taos County: 255
Torrance County: 104
Union County: 41
Valencia County: 1,043

DOH reported the following numbers of COVID-19 cases among individuals held by federal agencies at the following facilities:

Cibola County Correctional Center: 348
Otero County Prison Facility: 391
Otero County Processing Center: 189
Torrance County Detention Facility: 44

DOH reported the following numbers of COVID-19 cases among individuals held by the New Mexico Corrections Department at the following facilities:

Central New Mexico Correctional Facility in Valencia County: 92
Lea County Correctional Facility: 110
Northeast New Mexico Correctional Facility in Union County: 5
Northwest New Mexico Correctional Center in Cibola County: 1
Otero County Prison Facility: 472
Penitentiary of New Mexico in Santa Fe County: 2
Southern New Mexico Correctional Facility in Doña Ana County: 55
Western New Mexico Correctional Facility in Cibola County: 4

DOH has identified at least one positive COVID-19 case in residents and/or staff in the past 28 days in 67 long-term care facilities, the same number as reported on Thursday.