New Mexico virus danger remains as Doña Ana County, Otero Prison each top 700 total cases

SANTA FE, New Mexico — The rate at which the coronavirus is spreading in New Mexico is declining, but one of the state’s top health officials warned that the trend does not mean residents are out of danger yet.

The warning comes as the number of infections in New Mexico topped 10,430 on Saturday and with two new deaths, the fatality toll stood at 466.

Of the 172 additional cases reported statewide on Saturday, ten of those were in Doña Ana County - which reached 700 cumulative cases.

But the biggest caseload increase in the state came from the Otero County Prison, which saw 64 new inmate infections amid a huge outbreak that continues to grow larger by the day. The total number of prison cases hit 710.

Human Services Secretary David Scrase said about one-quarter of all the confirmed cases in New Mexico involve people who had no symptoms. When dealing with a pandemic, he said that represents a huge number and must be part of the consideration as state officials deliberate whether to reopen more of the economy.

He said that there’s a general belief among people in New Mexico that things are getting better and that everyone can get back to work now.

“The reason things are getting better is not because anything has changed about the virus,” said Scrase, a physician. “It’s because we are doing more social distancing, we are wearing masks, we’re keeping apart. The virus is going to be the same, and we’re going to be just as susceptible to it until we’re all vaccinated, or a large percentage of us are vaccinated. Remember that.”

State officials say New Mexico has been able to keep its cases from skyrocketing like neighboring Arizona and Texas because it has kept in place its stay-at-home order and established other counter measures aimed at limited contact between people and reducing the potential for spread through the use of masks, for example.

It could be another two weeks before state officials announce the next phase of reopening, and state public education officials are still weighing options for how classes will resume in the fall.

The easing of some restrictions on June 1 did not appear to overwhelm the state’s health care system or “take us beyond where we wanted to go,′ Scrase said.

But he still urged caution, saying the curve is more a reflection of social behaviors rather than any changes in the virus itself.

The warning comes as this weekend is Father’s Day. Officials are reminding people to wear masks, keep their distance from one another and use hand sanitizer regularly.