NM sees 638 new cases, six deaths over the weekend

Ryan Boetel, Albuquerque Journal, N.M.
·2 min read

Apr. 20—New Mexico reported 638 new cases of COVID-19 and six virus-related deaths on Monday, a total that includes cases from over the weekend.

Though there has been a small increase in the state's seven-day average case count from earlier this month, more and more people are getting vaccinated. The state Department of Health announced Monday that residents 40 years and older can now schedule their own vaccine appointments on vaccineNM.org.

The state for the past week has averaged 213 new cases and four deaths per day, according to a Journal analysis. That's up about 22% from earlier this month in terms of cases. On April 9, the seven-day average was 174 new cases per day.

Of the cases reported Monday, 199 were in Bernalillo County. Residents in that county also accounted for three of the six deaths, which brought the statewide toll to 4,007.

San Juan County had the second-highest number of new COVID cases, with 85. The 87401 zip code in Farmington has the most current cases of any zip code in the state, according to a Department of Health news release.

The department's change allowing those 40 years and older to schedule their own appointments is intended to provide more flexibility, said DOH Cabinet Secretary Dr. Tracie Collins in a news release.

"This has always been the goal — to provide New Mexicans as much flexibility as possible in scheduling their vaccine appointments," Collins said. "And, in the coming weeks, we intend to offer self-scheduling for all New Mexicans 16 years and older."

A state vaccine dashboard shows that 56.4% of New Mexicans have had at least one shot of a COVID vaccine and 38.3% of qualified residents are fully vaccinated.