New Mexico governor warns of ‘troubling rise’ in virus spread; Doña Ana has 1 of state’s 5 new deaths
SANTA FE, New Mexico – Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham warned on Thursday that New Mexico is experiencing a "troubling rise in Covid-19" cases and state officials cited Doña Ana County among those areas with a significant increase.
The remarks came at a briefing as the state announced 227 additional virus cases for the day and an additional five deaths, which included a Doña Ana County man in his 70s with underlying conditions.
Doña Ana County saw the second highest numbers of new cases of all counties in the state on Thursday with 47, just a few behind Bernalillo County's 53.
Doña Ana County's cumulative case count for the pandemic has now reached 3,476, with 57 total deaths.
The governor said hospitalizations across the state had jumped 30% in a week. As of Thursday, New Mexico had 86 people hospitalized with Covid-19.
The governor did not make changes to the existing public health orders, but Human Services Secretary Dr. David Scrase has warned residents not to expect any more re-openings due to the increasing infection rate.
New Mexico’s current orders limit businesses, including retail outlets, private schools and indoor restaurant areas, to 25% of capacity, while hotels and lodges can seek certification for 75% occupancy.
Masks are mandatory in public, with a 10-person limit on public gatherings and a 14-day self-quarantine requirement for travelers entering from high-infection rate states that currently include all five neighboring states.
As the state continues to take a cautious approach to reopening the economy, the state's largest school districts in Albuquerque and Las Cruces have already postponed a return to in-person instruction until at least January.
