SANTA FE — New Mexico recorded 43 more coronavirus deaths Wednesday, pushing its daily average to another record high — 32 fatalities a day over the last week.
Seven deaths were adults from Bernalillo County, the state’s most populous county. Wednesday’s victims ranged in age from their 40s to over 100, continuing the disease’s disproportionate impact on older people.
New Mexico’s official coronavirus-related death count now stands at 2,049 residents.
The number of COVID-19 patients in New Mexico hospitals fell to 838 — the smallest number reported so far this month. It’s a 12% drop from the peak of 947 hospitalizations Dec. 3.
Health officials also announced 1,816 new cases of the virus Wednesday. The state has averaged 1,633 cases over the last week — a 39% fall in the average since the week of Thanksgiving.
The 43 deaths reported Wednesday make it the deadliest seven-day stretch of the pandemic so far.
