SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico's lieutenant governor lobbied on Thursday for educators to be be among the first people to get access to coronavirus vaccines, along with health care workers, as the first doses become available in coming months.

New Mexico’s initial batch of 17,500 vaccine doses from Pfizer is slated to go to hospitals for use with personnel who have had high or medium risk exposure to the virus. A priority also is being placed on staff and residents at long-term care facilities, the office of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said in an email.

Lt. Gov. Howie Morales, a former public school teacher and state senator from Silver City, said in a statement that it is imperative for schools to reopen for classroom teaching after nine months of almost entirely online instruction.

“That requires educators to be at the front of the line, along with health care workers, for access to the vaccine," Morales said in a statement. “Responsibly keeping educators safe now can restart in-person learning.”

States across the country are drafting plans for who will go to the front of the line when the first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine become available later this month, as U.S. deaths from the outbreak eclipsed 3,100 in a single day, obliterating the record set last spring.

New Mexico officials announced a record 44 virus-related daily deaths on Thursday, breaking the previous record of 40 that was set just a day earlier.

State health officials reported an additional 1,908 confirmed cases Thursday, bringing the statewide total to more than 102,860. Hospitalizations also remained high.

“Importantly, the healthcare workforce in hospitals and long-term care facilities includes all individuals — whether medical staff, contractors or volunteers in hospitals with high or medium exposure to patients or infectious materials,” said Matt Nerzig, a spokesman for the governor's office. “Racial and ethnic minorities make up a significant portion of the staff in hospitals and long-term care facilities.”

Separately, officials in New Mexico’s largest city are planning a crackdown on illegal street racing and other disruptive driving that has accompanied the coronavirus pandemic and say they’ll seek new regulations to help them.

Interim Albuquerque Police Chief Harold Medina said the city is expanding late-night patrols and will lobby state lawmakers for stiffer penalties for repeat offenders on par with sanctions for driving while intoxicated.

He described a rash of complaints about drag racing, loud mufflers and tire-squealing maneuvers.

In the early months of the pandemic, several states reported an increase in citations for driving far over the speed limit. Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller believes the speedway phenomenon extends to many communities nationwide.

“This is happening all over the country, and it’s because of COVID," Keller said.

Separately, New Mexico's courts are expanding an online system for resolving financial disputes between landlords and tenants, starting Dec. 14. District Court Judge Jane Levy helped develop the upgrade and said it allows people to receive text or email updates on dispute negotiations by smartphone, tablet or computer.

The state Supreme Court has suspended evictions for residents who prove that they are unable to pay rent during the COVID-19 public health emergency.