Coronavirus: New Mexico now has 136 cases, Doña Ana County up to 16

LAS CRUCES - The number of positive cases for the novel coronavirus in New Mexico jumped by 24, state health officials said Thursday afternoon, bringing the total number of cases up to 136 statewide.

The state still has only one known death from COVID-19, according to the news release from the New Mexico Department of Health.

An Eddy County man in his late 70s was admitted to Artesia General Hospital on Sunday. The hospital said the man died Monday. His positive COVID-19 test came Tuesday.

The new case numbers add three positive cases to Doña Ana County, bringing the county's number of positive cases to 16.

The DOH reported there were 13 people hospitalized in New Mexico on Thursday for coronavirus complications, up from nine a day earlier. It noted the number may include patients who tested positive out of state but were transferred to a New Mexico hospital. The 136 only includes people tested in New Mexico.

NMDOH spokesperson David Morgan said some people who were the earliest to test positive for coronavirus in New Mexico now show no symptoms. He said NMDOH aims to provide more information on recoveries.

The 24 new cases are broken down by county here:

Bernalillo County:

• A female in her 20s
• A female in her 30s
• A male in his 40s
• A male in his 50s
• Three males in their 60s

Chaves County:

• ​A female in her 50s

Doña Ana County:

• ​Three males in their 20s

Sandoval County:

• A female in her 60s
• A male in his 70s

San Juan County:

• A female in her teens
• A female in her 30s
• A male in his 30s
• A female in her 40s
• A female in her 50s
• A male in his 60s​​

Santa Fe County:

• A male in his 30s
• Two females in their 40s
• A male in his 40s
• A female in her 60s

Community spread has been detected in New Mexico, health officials said, so cases are popping up where the patient has had no known coronavirus exposure.

"Given the infectious nature of the virus it is likely other residents are infected but yet to be tested or confirmed positive," the NMDOH news release said. "To that end, New Mexicans have been instructed to stay home except for outings absolutely necessary for health, safety and welfare."

New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham enacted a stay-at-home order that went into effect Tuesday which shuttered all non-essential businesses and restricted public gatherings to five people or less.

Michael McDevitt can be reached at 575-202-3205, mmcdevitt@lcsun-news.com or @MikeMcDTweets on Twitter.