State DOH reports 678 new cases of COVID

Downward trend continues with 7-day average at 701; 28 die

The state Department of Health reported 678 new COVID-19 cases Thursday, continuing a steady downward trend of virus cases over the past couple of weeks.

The seven-day average is 701, the lowest it’s been since Oct. 24.

It also reported 28 additional deaths from the illness caused by the novel coronavirus, bringing the total since March to 3,226.

Among the dead are two men in their 40s — one from Eddy County and one from Cibola County. Both men were hospitalized but the man from Eddy County was not reported as having underlying medical conditions.

Other COVID-19 victims include two people in their 50s — one of whom had underlying medical conditions — and six people in their 60s — four of whom had underlying medical conditions. The others were in their 70s, 80s and 90s.

Bernalillo County reported 187 new cases of the virus on Thursday, Doña Ana County reported 66 new cases, San Juan County reported 59 new cases, McKinley County reported 57 new cases, and Santa Fe County reported 54 new cases. The remaining counties reported 30 or fewer cases.

The state-run Lea County Correctional Facility reported 18 new cases of the virus, while the county itself reported 11 cases outside of the facility.

Throughout the state, 556 people are hospitalized from the virus. This includes people

from other states who were brought to New Mexico hospitals and does not include New Mexicans who were taken to other states for treatment.

There have been a total of 171,719 cases of COVID-19 in the state. The Department of Health has classified 99,524 people as having recovered.