2 tested for coronavirus in New Mexico, but no confirmed cases yet as state bolsters prevention efforts

SANTA FE, New Mexico — New Mexico's governor said Wednesday that two people in the state have been tested for coronavirus infection, with one negative result and the other result still undetermined.

The governor’s office would not reveal where the two patients live. 

While there are no confirmed cases yet of coronavirus in New Mexico, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said the state is preparing.

"We are working diligently to prevent having cases here, but we also want to be realistic that when you have an infectious disease of this nature, this virus, and it's in neighboring states, the likelihood is that all states in the country will be affected in some way," she told KOB-TV in Albuquerque.

The New Mexico Department of Health told KOB it had monitored 30 people over the course of a few months. Officials said those people “self-quarantined for the designated time.” It was unclear how many were still being monitored.

New Mexico health authorities said supplies have arrived to allow rapid testing for COVID-19 as Lujan Grisham expressed confidence in the state’s preparedness and public education efforts designed to minimize transmission of the virus.

"I'm certainly not in a state of panic," Lujan Grisham said. "No one else in the state is behaving in that way."

The state Department of Health said it is equipped to test several hundred patients for coronavirus without having to send samples out of state for analysis, using kits provided by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Testing is being applied selectively — starting with people who display signs of the illness, already test negative for more common respiratory illnesses and have traveled to a countries including China, South Korea, Italy and Iran.

Flanked by top state health officials at a signing ceremony for health-related legislation, Lujan Grisham did not provide specific responses to questions about the number of available hospital beds and respirators, or possible contingency planning at schools if classrooms were to shut down.

“Like all states, we have to have an inventory, we have to have a plan about where people go, we have to work with every hospital about making sure we have sufficient beds,” said Lujan Grisham, who participated in a conference call this week with Vice President Mike Pence, who is coordinating the federal government’s response. “We are working diligently with the feds to makes sure that if we need more, we have access to more.”

The state has launched a website dedicated to COVID-19, with tips on how to best avoid transmission and what to do if infection is suspected.

Symptoms of COVID-19 can include fever, cough and breathing trouble. Most develop only mild symptoms. But some people, usually those with other medical complications, develop more severe symptoms, including pneumonia, which can be fatal.

Instead of panicking, the governor said people should take precautions to stay healthy. 

"Wash your hands, which is the most effective way to prevent the spread of this virus and any other infectious disease," the governor said. "If you are sick, stay home. That is really critical that folks do that."

The state website said officials were “actively monitoring the hospital bed capacity in New Mexico and the availability of facemasks. We are working with healthcare facilities to be prepared if there are shortages and to implement alternative sites for healthcare if needed, and to increase the supply of personal protective equipment.”

The Democratic-controlled U.S. House passed an $8.3 billion measure Wednesday to battle the coronavirus outbreak that’s spreading rapidly and threatening a major shock to the economy and disruptions to everyday life in the United States. Much of that funding is directed at state and local government efforts, like those in New Mexico.