Coronavirus cases spread to San Miguel County as testing becomes available statewide

The number of the COVID-19 coronavirus cases in New Mexico reached 35 on Thursday 19 March, including the first positive test in San Miguel County.  The increase comes as Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has begun to make testing available in a number of locations statewide.  A mobile "drive-through" testing unit was set up outside Memorial Middle School on Thursday and the state is awaiting results from tests completed on that day. According to information provided to the Las Vegas Optic by the San Miguel County emergency manager Leo Maestas, the individual who tested positive was likely exposed during travel and is in self-isolation at home.  

Testing for the COVID-19 coronavirus is now available at several sites across New Mexico, including Alta Vista Regional Hospital in Las Vegas. Testing at Alta Vista is available to those exhibiting coronavirus symptoms, which include fever, cough, and shortness or breath and/or difficulty breathing.  Note that testing at Alta Vista is currently done as an ER visit and the hospital is billing for this service as an emergency room visit.  Please call the medical center for questions about testing at: 505.426.3615.  Other testing sites in nearby locations include Christus St. Vincent's in Santa Fe. For a complete list of testing locations, go to the New Mexico Department of Health website at cv.nmhealth.org and click on the purple box on the right showing "Public Screening and COVID-19 testing sites.​