NM tallies 1,092 COVID cases and 36 deaths

Average number of infections falls as fatalities rise

New Mexico reported Saturday that the average number of COVID-19 cases dropped slightly as the average number of deaths from the virus rose.

The state reported 1,092 new cases and 36 additional deaths from the virus on Saturday. Those totals changed the daily averages from 1,193 cases and 23 deaths a day to 1,135 cases and 25 deaths a day.

Over the past few weeks, the averages fell, on separate days, to 22 deaths and 1,032 cases — their lowest levels since November.

This time last month, the averages were at near-record highs of 1,629 cases and 32 deaths a day.

Nora Meyers Sackett, a Governor’s Office spokeswoman, said all but 12 of the 36 most recent deaths involved underlying conditions.

The deceased ranged in age from one man in his 30s to three women in their 90s, and the majority of those who died, 10, were from Bernalillo County.

Most of the new cases were in Bernalillo County, which had 276, and Doña Ana County, with 173. Sandoval County had 75, and McKinley and San Juan counties had 71 each.

There have been 162,893 virus cases and 2,910 deaths across New Mexico since the pandemic hit in March.

Sackett said that as of Saturday, 632 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 across the state.

The New Mexico Department of Health has designated 84,803 cases as recovered.