SANTA FE — Gov. Michelle Lujan-Grisham and members of her cabinet updated the public on the state’s efforts to combat COVID-19 within our state along with an announcement to allow breweries to reopen with outdoor and patio seating.
The governor’s June 11 news conference updated COVID-19 numbers for New Mexico.
There are 9,367 total cases in New Mexico with 121 new cases. One-hundred-eighty-nine individuals are hospitalized with 60 of them on ventilators.
In New Mexico, 420 people have lost their lives to COVID-19, including 10 new deaths announced June 11.
“Every death we mourn as a state. We share and give our condolences to the families,” Lujan-Grisham said.
In total, 250,880 total COVID-19 tests have been conducted.
Fourteen new cases were reported for McKinley County June 11, bringing the total to 2,822 cases, the most among New Mexico counties.
As of June 11, two counties — Mora and De Baca — have no reported cases of COVID-19.
With patrons practicing social distancing measures, the governor announced breweries can have up to 50 percent occupancy outdoors beginning June 12.
Starting June 15, the governor announced breweries will be allowed to have 50 percent maximum occupancy indoors.
The state continues to test citizens for COVID-19.
Kathyleen Kunkel, the secretary for the New Mexico Department of Health, says there have been over 100 rapid responses — where the state sets up testing centers to test possible COVID-19 affected employees — since May 11.
“Some examples are grocery stores, nursing homes, dental offices, financial institutions, dialysis centers and childcare services,” Kunkel said.
“We will contact the business to let them know that they have a positive worker. We help them close down the affected area, we test 100 percent of the affected employees, work with them to develop a COVID-safe plan, and arrange immediately for additional testing.”
Kunkel said hotspots are of concern including the Otero County prison facility in Chaparral, where two inmates have passed away from COVID-19.
Dr. David Scrase, the cabinet secretary for the Health and Human Services Department, said nearly 13 percent of COVID-19 cases are occurring in children.
“That’s high. I think we are now the fourth-highest state in the country in terms of percent of cases,” Scrase said about the number of cases in children.
Scrase stressed that New Mexicans should continue to stay home and to use masks when in public.
“Until there’s a vaccine, we have to keep managing how we deal with the virus,” Lujan-Grisham said. “[COVID-19 cases] are climbing in the U.S. and some of the public health experts are expecting that we are going to double in the number of deaths by September and see steep increases in the number of cases across the county.”
New Mexicans will continue to be required to wear masks in public and limit groups and gatherings to five people.
“Please, work to adhere to these requirements,” Lujan-Grisham said.
