Department of Health, City of Albuquerque announce COVID-19 outbreak, deaths at long-term care facility
The New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) and the City of Albuquerque report today an outbreak of COVID-19 at the La Vida Llena long-term care facility in Albuquerque where two residents have died, and 19 residents and three staff members have tested positive for COVID-19 with additional test results still pending.
The resident deaths consist of a man in his 90s and a man in his 80s, both had underlying health conditions. The man in his 90s died yesterday, April 2nd; the other in his 80s died early this morning.
“We are collaborating with the facility to complete testing of the residents and staff,” NMDOH Cabinet Secretary Kathy Kunkel. “We are also working together on identifying their recent contacts to determine the need for additional testing.”
"We continue our vigilance with respect to nursing homes," said City of Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller. "Our Environmental Health Department is working with the New Mexico Department of Health to make sure people are following self-isolation guidance and that all state health regulations are being followed in these high-risk facilities."
Older adults, ages 65 and older and people of any age who have serious underlying medical conditions are at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19. This includes people with:
- Chronic lung disease or moderate to severe asthma
- Serious heart conditions
- Conditions that can cause a person to be immunocompromised, including cancer treatment, smoking, bone marrow or organ transplantation, immune deficiencies, poorly controlled HIV or AIDS, and prolonged use of corticosteroids and other immune weakening medications.
- Severe obesity (body mass index [BMI] of 40 or higher)
- Diabetes
- Chronic kidney disease and who are undergoing dialysis
- Liver disease
Given the infectious nature of the virus, it is likely other residents are infected but yet to be tested or confirmed positive. To that end, all New Mexicans continue to be instructed to stay home except for outings absolutely necessary for health, safety and welfare. These additional restrictions have been enacted to aggressively minimize person-to-person contact and ensure spread is mitigated. All businesses except those deemed essential have been ordered to close. New Mexicans are strongly urged to limit travel to only what is necessary for health, safety and welfare.
New Mexico residents are asked to continue to protect themselves and others from this virus by following the basics: wash hands often, clean and disinfect surfaces, avoid close contact – via social distancing of at least 6 feet and/or staying home as much as possible, cover coughs and sneezes and wear non-medial facemasks if you are sick.
Residents with health-related questions can call our coronavirus hotline at 855-600-3453. For non-health-related questions or concerns call 833-551-0518 or visit newmexico.gov, which is being updated and finalized as a one-stop source for information.
The New Mexico Department of Health also updates its dedicated COVID-19 webpage daily with additional tests as the state lab provides results.
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