New Mexico virus cases continue to decline

Seven-day average of new infections lowest since October

New Mexico reported 602 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, continuing a steady downward trend with the lowest seven-day average since late October.

The seven-day average is 764. The last time it was that low was Oct. 28.

The state also reported 14 deaths, including that of a woman in her 30s from Bernalillo County and a man in his 40s from San Juan County. Both were hospitalized and had underlying conditions.

There have been a total of 3,171 deaths from the illness caused by the novel coronavirus in the state.

The state hit 1,000 deaths in early November and since then has reported over 2,000 more.

Of the cases reported Tuesday, 155 were in Bernalillo County, 82 were in Doña Ana County and 52 were in San Juan County.

Other counties throughout the state reported fewer than 40 cases.

There are 561 people hospitalized in the state for COVID-19, although that number may include people from out of state who were transferred in. It does not include New Mexicans who are hospitalized in other states.

Overall, over the past 10 months, the state has had a total of 170,296 COVID-19 cases, 96,659 of which have been designated as recovered by the state Department of Health.

Meanwhile, the DOH has vaccinated over 200,000 New Mexicans and has used 92% of the doses the state has received from the federal government.

However, officials say as many as 800,000 are qualified to get the shot now.