New Mexico officials grapple with unprecedented virus spread
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham was set Wednesday to speak about the spread of COVID-19 in the state at “dangerous and unprecedented rates,” a day after daily confirmed infections set a new statewide record.
The Democrat's news conference follows her warnings that more stringent rules could be imposed because of a rise in cases. Newly imposed rules already limit gatherings to five people or less, reduce hotel capacities and a specify a 10 p.m. closing time for restaurants and bars.
New Mexico is listed as a region of “uncontrolled spread” by the covidexitstrategy.org website that is closely watched by state health officials for infection trends.
The statewide positive infection rate has crept into the “high risk” category used by New Mexico to evaluate risks associated with travel to other states.
The scale of the problem is reflected in a record-setting 611 rapid responses by state health officials to businesses and government institutions where infections turned up during the week ending Oct. 11.
In recent days, officials responded to virus alerts throughout the state at a meat packing plant, several county jails, major oil producers, two national defense laboratories, an aerospace company, private and public hospitals, a film studio, a social media datacenter, motorcycle dealerships, big box retailers, universities, elementary schools and restaurants offering fast food and fine dining.
There were 145 people hospitalized in New Mexico for COVID-19 as of Tuesday. About three people die statewide every day on average from the virus.
The seven-day rolling average of New Mexico's positive infection rate has risen over the past two weeks from 3.2% of those tested on Sept. 30 to 5.5% on Oct. 14, according to an analysis by The Associated Press of data collected by Johns Hopkins University Center for Systems Science and Engineering. Comparing seven-day averages of new cases smooths out anomalies in the data, including delays in test results.
Average new daily confirmed cases have more than doubled from 195 to 395 during the same two-week period.
New Mexico ranks 25th among states in new COVID-19 cases per capita over the past two weeks, amid surging infection rates in Mountain West and Midwest states.
The number of virus-related deaths of New Mexico residents related to COVID-19 is now at 921.
For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death.