27 new Dona Ana County virus cases as New Mexico plans to test food industry workers
SANTA FE, New Mexico — New Mexico state health officials on Wednesday announced 147 additional cases of coronavirus; 27 of those new cases occurred in Dona Ana County, bringing total infections there to date to 615 with just three deaths.
The state of New Mexico now has 9,250 total cases with 410 deaths. Six new fatalities were reported Wednesday, all of those occurring in either the Albuquerque area or the northwest corner of the state.
Meantime, state officials are setting aside time slots for food industry workers for Covid-19 testing at numerous New Mexico Department of Health field offices statewide including those in Las Cruces, Anthony, Sunland Park, Alamogordo and Ruidoso.
The state Department of Health said the testing time slots from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. each Monday will be for people who work at establishments such as restaurants, grocery stories, farmers markets, distribution centers and food manufacturing facilities.
The department said the effort should help identify, isolate and trace new cases. The department’s announcement also noted that many people infected with the coronavirus may not experience symptoms but still have potential to pass the virus.
