New Mexico still seeing fewer than 500 COVID cases a day

The state recorded 308 additional cases of COVID-19 and 12 deaths from the virus Tuesday, according to a Department of Health update. It is the third straight day that fewer than 500 cases have been reported and the eighth time over the past 10 days.

The downward trend leaves the rolling averages at 397 cases — the lowest since Oct. 13 — and 17 deaths a day. This time last month, the averages were 1,134 cases and 25 deaths a day.

Four of the 12 people whose deaths were reported Tuesday were from Bernalillo County, with six of the 12 reporting underlying conditions. The deceased mostly ranged in age from their 40s to their 80s, but two men from Valencia and Lea counties were in their 30s.

The majority of new cases came from Bernalillo and Doña Ana counties, at 74 and 52, respectively. There were also 13 new cases among federal inmates at the Cibola County Correctional Center.

New Mexico has recorded 181,060 cases of COVID-19 and 3,550 deaths from the virus.

A total of 290 people are currently hospitalized with the virus across the state, a number that may include those who tested positive out of state, but are hospitalized in New Mexico.

So far, 123,507 people have been designated by the New Mexico Department of Health as having recovered from COVID-19.