By Dan Boyd/ Journal Capitol Bureau Chief
Thursday, April 23 rd, 2020 at 4: 22 pm
SANTA FE– Top state health officials have announced 7 extra deaths due to the COVID-19 break out, as the illness continues to ravage northwest New Mexico.
The additional deaths bring the state’s death toll to78 All seven of the deceased were women, and five of the 7 lived in counties– McKinley, San Juan and Sandoval– that have had elevated coronavirus infection and casualty rates compared to the remainder of the state.
The other two people lived in Bernalillo County.
Meanwhile, the overall number of validated COVID-19 cases in New Mexico increased by 169 to 2,379 Of the 169 brand-new cases, 105 originated from people in McKinley and San Juan counties.
New Mexico’s tribal communities have been struck hard by the coronavirus outbreak, with infection clusters on the Navajo Nation and numerous pueblos. Brand-new state information shows Native Americans now comprise 44%of the state’s total cases– up from 37.6%last week– in spite of just representing about 11%of the state’s total population.
