Governor: Infection trend 'untenable'

SANTA FE — New Mexico officials reported three straight daily records of COVID-19 infections in a trend Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Thursday called “alarming” and “untenable” for healthcare providers.

The state reported 819 new cases of COVID-19 Friday, topping the short-lived record marks of 672 Thursday and 577 Wednesday.

Friday’s count included a local record with 76 new cases in Curry County. Eight new cases were confirmed in Roosevelt County.

The count also included six deaths, including a Roosevelt County female in her 70s who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions.

“We’re not succeeding in combating the virus,” Lujan Grisham said. “The virus is now winning. This is the most serious emergency New Mexico has ever faced.”

The governor recommended staying home and supporting businesses online as much as possible and wearing a mask if going out is necessary for “food, life, safety, work.” Other recommendations included avoiding groups and indoor spaces and handwashing.

The state has, since March, confirmed 35,770 COVID-19 cases, 19,613 cases designated as recovered and 928 deaths.

As of Friday, there were 168 hospitalizations, up 91% so far in October.

“At some point, you don’t have enough hospital beds to meet the demand,” Lujan Grisham said Thursday. “This is exactly where we don’t want to be.”

The state reported 611 rapid responses last week, up from 419 the prior week, with 120% increases in restaurants and 98% increases in retailers and wholesalers.

There were no changes to state public health orders beyond the ones announced Tuesday. Those changes, effective Friday, include the following:

• The definition of mass gatherings will be reduced from 10 to five.

• Any food or drink establishment serving alcohol must close no later than 10 p.m.

• Occupancy is capped at 60% for places of lodging that have completed the state’s Safe Certified training program and 25% for places that have not, down from the current rates of 75% and 50%.

• People arriving from a high-risk state — test positivity rate of at least 5% or a test positivity rate of 80 new daily cases per 100,000 residents — must still quarantine for 14 days or the duration of their stay in New Mexico, whichever is longer. Exemptions for people who can provide a negative COVID-19 test will be eliminated.

Human Services Secretary David Scrase said COVID-19 cases have risen among all age groups, and he has concerns when he sees those in the 65 and older ranges because they’re the most likely to require hospitalization.

In other COVID-19 developments:

• Curry County on Friday announced three employees at its administrative complex tested positive for COVID-19, and four others were off of work pending test results or quarantining due to close contact.

The employees were an administration employee who was last in the building Oct. 4, a clerk’s office employee last in the building Oct. 9 and an assessor’s office employee last in the building Oct. 9.

A county release asks the public to be patient as the offices are shortstaffed and encourages business online or by phone if possible.

• Education Secretary Ryan Stewart gave a separate update Friday afternoon. He said since schools began the reentry process Sept. 8, the department has seen 244 cases reported across 148 schools, with 154 positive staffers and 90 positive students.

Stewart said public schools had various exemptions from new public health orders, and noted that districts that have received clearance to begin hybrid learning that combines in-person and virtual learning will be allowed to continue for now even though their county infection rates have since worsened.

With the state not meeting gating criteria as a whole, however, Stewart said the department is limited in its ability to reopen more schools.

• The PED also reported three new cases among school populations in Curry County — two staff members last on school property Friday and Tuesday, and a student last on campus Sept. 25.

• Prior to the briefing, House Republicans released a statement blasting the governor for not taking responsibility for the impacts of the public health orders.

“The governor has devastated the economy in New Mexico with her forced economic shutdown, yet the recent COVID cases continue to rise,” said House Republican Whip Rod Montoya. “At what point does she stop blaming the people of this state who are under her restrictions, and when do we start holding the governor accountable for her mismanagement of this crisis?”

• The governor, on her final day of required quarantine after exposure to a positive case at the governor’s residence, said she will continue to isolate as much as possible despite her and her fiancee both testing negative twice. She said the custodial worker who tested positive is feeling better, but unfortunately the virus spread within the home.

• State officials stressed the importance of getting a flu shot, as the Department of Health confirmed its first flu case of the 2020-21 season Thursday. The case was a teenager living in southeast New Mexico.

In prior press briefings, state officials were optimistic the flu season would be light because many of the same methods that reduce COVID-19 spread are effective against flu spread.

“There is no better time to get your flu shot than now,” Department of Health Acting Cabinet Secretary Billy Jimenez said in a department release. “Flu-related illnesses make for busy times for medical professionals, especially in hospitals where ICU beds and ventilators are needed for the more severe flu cases — the same beds and equipment needed to treat severe cases of COVID-19.”