New Mexico announces more coronavirus infections statewide
Columbia Basin Herald | UPDATED 6 years, 6 months AGO
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico health officials Thursday confirmed a second positive test for coronavirus with no known connection to travel.
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham's office announced seven new positive tests including a first infection in northeastern San Miguel County.
There have been 35 positive tests statewide, with the majority in the corridor between Albuquerque to Santa Fe.
Lujan Grisham spokeswoman Nora Meyers Sackett said the two untraceable infections in Bernalillo County underscore the governor's urgent call for people to stay home and avoid social contact.
In other developments:
— A statewide public health order took effect that closes indoor shopping malls, health clubs, athletic facilities, movie theaters and flea markets, while limiting restaurant and bar operations to take-out or delivery service.
— Hotels were ordered to scale back business to 50% of capacity or less with some exceptions including lodging for health care workers.
— Supermarkets implemented opening hours for the elderly. The state began limiting purchases to three items each for toilet paper, baby formula, diapers, over-the-counter medicine and more. At a grocery story in Santa Fe, register clerks called out the restrictions as long lines of shoppers formed.
— A slowing economy and plunging world oil prices loomed over the long-term financial resources of state government, which depends on the petroleum sector for more than a third of annual operating income.
Minority state House Republicans on Thursday urged the governor to reconvene the legislature to revise increased spending within a $7.6 billion general fund budget plan for the coming fiscal year that starts July 1.
State government has about $1.8 billion in financial operating reserves as a buffer against economic recession. It was unclear how the Legislature would conduct business under health restrictions that prohibit gatherings of 10 people.
— A drive-thru testing site in western Albuquerque closed temporarily because of snow.