Copyright © 2020 Albuquerque Journal
SANTA FE – New Mexico reported five more coronavirus deaths Friday and 150 new cases, roughly in line with the recent average for the last week and well below peak levels.
The statewide death toll now stands at 739 residents since the pandemic reached New Mexico in March. The fatalities reported Friday include adults ranging in age from their 40s to their 90s.
Four of the five lived in group facilities of some kind.
The state has averaged about five deaths a day over the last week, or about half as many as the state’s peak of 10 deaths a day in mid-May.
Friday’s numbers include a dramatic drop in the number of virus patients hospitalized in New Mexico – just 65, down from 125 a week ago. The numbers include out-of-state residents in New Mexico hospitals but don’t include any New Mexicans hospitalized outside the state.
The state’s seven-day rolling average of publicly reported cases now stands at 134, far below the state’s peak of 330 cases on average in late July.
Bernalillo County led the state with 32 new cases Friday.
Health officials have confirmed 24,095 cases throughout the state so far.
New Mexico remains in compliance with its reopening criteria – a set of standards on testing capacity, medical supplies, disease spread and other factors.
State health officials said this week that they want to see New Mexico sustain compliance with the criteria for some time before moving forward with relaxed public health restrictions.
The state’s current order is set to expire in a week, though it may be revised before then or extended.
