SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico health officials are offering coronavirus testing for utility workers as part of a statewide effort to keep essential workers in various fields safe and healthy.

Friday's announcement by the state Department of Health covers those workers who ensure the continued operation of critical infrastructure such as electrical, water and wastewater systems.

The special testing hours being set aside for utility workers also is meant to help the state with identifying, isolating and tracing new cases of COVID-19. State officials said during an online update Thursday that...