SANTA FE — New Mexico reported 23 more coronavirus deaths Tuesday — all adults in their 60s or older — and about 1,200 new cases of the disease.
The additional fatalities push the statewide total to 2,403 deaths since March.
The Department of Health also reported 806 coronavirus hospitalizations — an 8% increase over the last three days, but still below the peak in early December.
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Twitter urged New Mexicans to take “every action you can to protect yourself, your family and your community.”
New Mexico reported 1,221 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday — just a bit above the state’s seven-day rolling average of 1,115 cases a day. The average number of cases has fallen sharply since late November, though the case totals still remain well beyond the state’s reopening goal of just 168 new infections a day.
The share of tests that come back positive has also fallen — to about 11.6% in the most recent seven-day period tracked by the state. It peaked at 24% in late November.
The improvement comes as the Department of Health is set to release a new map Wednesday outlining whether any New Mexico counties have hit the statistical targets required to slightly relax their business restrictions.
Reaching a test positivity rate of 5% or less, for example, would allow a county’s restaurants to reopen indoor dining at partial capacity.
The state’s red-to-green map is due to be updated mid-day Wednesday. Each of the state’s 33 counties is now in the red, the most stringent level of restrictions.
The Department of Health releases a new color-coded map every two weeks.
The 23 virus-related fatalities announced Tuesday include six adults living in nursing homes or group settings, including a Sierra County man in his 90s at the New Mexico State Veterans Home in Truth or Consequences.
The state has averaged 29 virus deaths a day over the last week.
