SANTA FE – New Mexico state health officials on announced 13 additional positive tests for COVID-19 March 23.

Per the state Department of Health, the most recent cases are:

Five new cases in Bernalillo County:

• A male in his 20s
• A female in her 40s
• A male in his 40s
• A female in her 70s
• A female in her 80s

One new case in Eddy County:

• ​A male in his 70s – deceased. As previously reported March 25 by the Department of Health, this individual died Sunday, March 22. The state laboratory confirmed a positive COVID-19 test late March 24, after receiving it the same day.

Two new cases in Rio Arriba County:

• A male in his 60s
• A female in her 70s

One new case in Sandoval County:

• A female in her 30s

One new case in San Juan County:

• A male in his 30s

Three new cases in Santa Fe County:

• A female in her 40s
• A female in her 50s
• A male in his 70s

Including the above newly reported cases, New Mexico has now had a total of 112 positive tests for COVID-19. A previously reported positive case in Chaves County was determined to be a clerical error; the patient has been informed, and the state count has been amended to reflect that fact:​

• Bernalillo County: 48
• Doña Ana County: 13
• Cibola County: 1
• Chaves County: 3
• Curry County: 1
• Eddy County: 1
• Lea County: 1
• McKinley County: 3
• Rio Arriba County: 2
• Sandoval County: 8
• San Juan County: 8
• San Miguel County: 1
• Santa Fe County: 17
• ​​Socorro County: 2
• Taos County: 3

As of March 25, there are nine 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.

The Department of Health has detected community spread. 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 (855) 600-3453.

\

People without those symptoms do not need to be tested for COVID-19. This is allergy season, and allergy symptoms such as sneezing or itchy eyes, nose or throat do not indicate a need for testing. While the state is gratified that COVID-19 testing is increasingly available, we need to prioritize testing for persons with symptoms of COVID-19 infection - fever, cough, 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.

SANTA FE - The New Mexico Department of Health on announced the state’s first death related to COVID-19 March 25.

Per the state Department of Health, a male in his late 70s in Eddy County died March 22, at Artesia General Hospital. That was the day he arrived at the hospital. His condition deteriorated rapidly. The man had multiple chronic underlying health issues.

A COVID-19 test was performed locally and sent to the state laboratory, which received the test March 24. The lab confirmed the positive test late the same day.

“This is a tragic day,” Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said. “Across our state, across the country, we are all reeling from the effects of this virus. For anyone in our state who had not yet acknowledged this virus as the urgent public health crisis that it is, who has not accepted the extremely compelling need to stay home, today lays bare the very real, very life-or-death consequences of this disease. My prayers are with the family of this New Mexican.

I ask all New Mexicans to include the sick and their families in their prayers - as well as the health care workers and those others on the front lines helping protect us from this disease.

In light of this news, I want to further emphasize: As we test more people in the state, we will see the number of infections rise. And as we see the number of infections rise, we are likely to see more death. This is why it is absolutely imperative that New Mexicans remain home except for only those most essential or emergent outings. Social distancing and isolation is the best tool we have right now for mitigating the spread of this virus and avoiding capacity issues within our state’s health care system.

All of us must undertake these steps in order to save more lives and prevent more deaths.”

New Mexico residents have been instructed to stay home except for outings essential to health, safety and welfare in order to minimize person-to-person contact. All non-essential businesses in the state have been ordered to cease in-person operations.

New Mexicans who are symptomatic – fever, shortness of breath, cough – for COVID-19 may call (855) 600-3453 to learn about testing sites across the state. There is more information updated regularly on cv.nmhealth.org

SANTA FE – New Mexico state health officials on Monday announced 17 additional positive tests for COVID-19.

Per the state Department of Health, the most recent cases are:

One new case in McKinley County:

• A female in her teens

One new case in Cibola County:

• ​A female in her 50s

Five new cases in Bernalillo County:

• A female in her 40s
• A male in his 40s
• A female in her 50s
• A male in his 70s
• A male in his 80s

Three new cases in Doña Ana County:

• A male in his 20s
• A male in his 30s
• A male in his 60s

One new case in Curry County:

• ​A female in her 50s

Four new cases in San Juan County:

• Two males in their 30s
• A male in his 40s
• A female in her 30s

Two new cases in Santa Fe County:

• A male in his 50s
• A male in his 70s

Including the above newly reported cases, New Mexico has now had a total of 100 positive tests for COVID-19:

• Bernalillo County: 43
• Doña Ana County: 13
• Cibola County: 1
• Curry County: 1
• Lea County: 1
• McKinley County: 3
• Sandoval County: 7
• San Juan County: 7
• San Miguel County: 1
• Santa Fe County: 14
• ​​Socorro County: 2
• Taos County: 3
• Chaves County: 4

The Department of Health has detected community spread. 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).

People without those symptoms do not need to be tested for COVID-19. This is allergy season, and allergy symptoms such as sneezing or itchy eyes, nose or throat do not indicate a need for testing. While the state is gratified that COVID-19 testing is increasingly available, we need to prioritize testing for persons with symptoms of COVID-19 infection – fever, cough, 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 and finalized as a one-stop source for information.

The state Department of Health will update its dedicated COVID-19 webpage with additional tests as the state lab provides results.

Four cases in McKinley County

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. – On Tuesday, Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez and Vice President Myron Lizer were informed of 10 new positive COVID-19 tests by the Navajo Department of Health and Navajo Area IHS, bringing the overall total to 39 cases for Navajo people. This includes 25 in Navajo County, six in Apache County, four in Coconino County in Arizona, and four in McKinley County in New Mexico.

A Public Health Emergency “Stay at Home Order” remains in effect requiring all residents of the Navajo Nation to remain home and isolated and all non-essential businesses to close to prevent the further spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus.

“Help beat the virus by staying home. To prevent a massive public health crisis, every person must remain home, unless you need food, medicine, or other essential items, but beyond that we shouldn’t have anyone traveling or going out into the public. If you need essential items, send only one person and use every precaution available,” Nez said.

“Stay home, stay safe, save lives! Our first responders are on the ground working hard to help our communities. We will beat this virus together. We are praying every day for our people who are sick and their families,” Lizer added.

On Monday, the Navajo Department of Emergency Management in coordination with the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission Office successfully issued an Emergency Alert through text message urging all Navajo residents to stay home to prevent the spread of the virus. The system will also be used to issue AMBER Alerts, Silver Alerts, Weather Alerts, and Missing Endangered Person Alerts. Supplies are also arriving from the Strategic National Stockpile, and being delivered to health care centers on the Navajo Nation.

All residents of the Navajo Nation can register to receive alerts from the Navajo Department of Emergency Management by texting “NavajoNation” to 888777or registering online at www.nnalert.com.

“We need everyone’s cooperation by staying home at the advice of health care experts. We need to contain the virus to avoid widespread issues,” added President Nez.

The Navajo Police Department is also on the ground informing communities using public address systems from police units. If Chilchinbeto residents have questions or need assistance, please call ‪(928) 871-6271. To contact the main Navajo Health Command Operations Center, please call ‪(928) 871-7014.