Copyright © 2020 Albuquerque Journal
Health officials announced Sunday that 12 more people have died of COVID-19 in New Mexico, the highest death count the state has seen in one day.
Sunday’s additions bring the total number of deaths in New Mexico to 151.
The Department of Health also announced 118 new cases. That was only a partial total after a technical lapse delayed the reporting of results from some labs.
Meanwhile Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said she will extend through Thursday an emergency declaration in Gallup. Lujan Grisham on Friday invoked the Riot Control Act and put the city on lockdown in an effort to slow the spread of the virus. The initial order had been set to expire Monday.
Roads going into town are closed during the lockdown, and businesses, excluding medical centers, are expected to be closed between 5 p.m. and 8 a.m. Residents are asked to stay home except for emergency outings.
State Police and the New Mexico National Guard is helping enforce the lockdown order and social distancing guidelines.
As of Sunday, there were 1,144 COVID-19 cases in McKinley County, the highest number in the state.
“Only through the extension of the invocation of your authority under the Riot Control Act can our community impose the measures necessary to stem transmission of COVID-19,” Gallup Mayor Louis Bonaguidi wrote in a letter to Lujan Grisham.
One of the 12 deaths reported Sunday was that of a woman in her 50s from McKinley County who had underlying conditions and had been hospitalized. Six more were in neighboring San Juan County, five of whom were residents of the Life Care Center of Farmington. Governor’s office spokeswoman Jodi McGinnis-Porter confirmed that 31 residents of the nursing home have died of COVID-19.
The sixth person health officials said Sunday had died in San Juan County was a man in his 50s who had no underlying conditions but had been hospitalized.
As of Sunday, 164 people were hospitalized statewide with the disease, and 832 have been designated as having recovered, according to the Department of Health.
The total number of cases in New Mexico is now 3,850.
