NM reports 281 new virus cases, 4 deaths
May 6—SANTA FE — New Mexico reported 281 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday as infections remain just above the state's goal of 210 or fewer a day.
The Department of Health also announced four more coronavirus-related deaths, pushing the statewide total to 4,089 fatalities during the pandemic.
Vaccinations, meanwhile, continued to tick upward: The state now estimates that 46% of adults in the state are fully vaccinated and 59% have received at least one dose.
State health officials say New Mexico is on track to reach its goal of 60% of adults fully vaccinated by June 30, a move that would result in lifting capacity restrictions on businesses.
In the meantime, the state is using a four-tiered system to determine the level of public health restrictions in each county, based on the number of new cases, the share of tests that come back positive and the percentage of adults fully vaccinated.
Most of the state — including Bernalillo County — are now in the least-restrictive level, allowing bars to reopen indoor operations.
In Thursday's daily update, state health officials reported:
—281 new cases of the disease, 79 of which were in Bernalillo County.
—The virus-related fatalities of four adults, including the death of a man in his 50s from Bernalillo County.
—The hospitalization of 149 coronavirus patients, an 82% increase over the last month.
