SANTA FE — New Mexico broke more of its own coronavirus records Tuesday, setting a new high for virus deaths in a week.
Health officials reported 14 deaths, pushing the state’s seven-day rolling average to more than 14.1 fatalities a day, the highest it’s ever been.
The average number of new cases is also a record. The seven-day rolling average now stands at 1,188 cases a day — a 55% increase since the beginning of the month.
Just on Tuesday, health officials tallied 1,266 cases — led by 307 in Bernalillo County and 222 in Doña Ana County.
The deaths reported Tuesday include seven residents of Doña Ana County, ranging in age from their 40s to their 80s.
The statewide death toll is now 1,144 residents.
New Mexico’s dismal virus numbers go beyond the daily case and death counts:
— The share of tests that come back positive is at its highest level since April, reaching 10.4% in the most recent seven-day period tracked by the state.
— Contact tracing for people who test positive is taking almost twice as long the state’s goal. The state reports it now takes 46 hours to ensure some who tested positive is in quarantine, compared with the target of 24 hours or less.
— The state’s hub hospitals reported 307 adults in their ICU beds Tuesday, well above their baseline capacity of 290, forcing them to invoke contingency measures to free up more space.
