Coronavirus Update – April 23, 2020

Coronavirus updates for Grant County for Thursday, April 23, 2020.  Our guest today on Coronavirus Update is Teresa Dahl Bredine, co-owner of Little Toad Creek Brewery and Distillery, based in Silver City and Las Cruces.  She  will be speaking with Alicia Edwards about the Toad’s efforts in making hand sanitizer in response to the Covid-19 outbreak.

Coronavirus Update is a local radio show that provides the latest information you need to know on local community strategies to slow the spread of the Coronavirus and protect yourself, your family and our community during this public health crisis. Brought to you by Gila-Mimbres Community Radio, Gila Resources Information Project, Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities Grant County and National Center for Frontier Communities.

Send us your updates to co**************************@***il.com

NM Dept of Health COVID-19 Hotline 1-855-600-3453 or visit cv.nmhealth.org

Coronavirus Information Hotline at 1-833-551-0518 or visit newmexico.gov

NM Crisis & Access Line, 24/7, 1-855-662-7474; nmcrisisline.com

Message from Grant County’s health care providers – video

Donations to Community COVID-19 Response – Grant County Community Foundation

Coronavirus Update Resource Page – gmcr.org/coronavirus-resources

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CVU is broadcast live weekdays at Noon and
rebroadcast following Democracy Now! at 6pm and 8am

Or listen to this episode at your convenience via this link…
CVU / Coronavirus Update – April 23, 2020

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April 23, 2020 – Updates as of 10 am – Please note: Because we are producing this show remotely, these updates are current as of 10 am. Information on this page can change quickly, including Coronavirus Updates from previous days. Please visit gmcr.org/category/coronavirus-update to see the latest updates.

As of Today – Thursday , April 23 – 2,210 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in New Mexico, with 71 deaths, 121 hospitalized individuals, and 547 recoveries according to the New Mexico Department of Health.

Grant County currently has 14 positive cases of coronavirus. In total, 41,232 COVID-19 tests have been performed in the state, and 414 have been conducted in Grant County.

For a full breakdown of COVID-19 cases by county and demographic information, visit the state’s COVID-19 data dashboard at: cvprovider.nmhealth.org/public-dashboard

The Department of Health reports that 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 have been instructed to stay home except for outings absolutely necessary for health, safety and welfare.

As a reminder — New Mexicans who report symptoms of COVID-19 infection, such as fever, cough, or shortness of breath, are advised to call their health care provider or the COVID-19 hotline immediately at 1-855-600-3453

New Mexicans who have non-health-related questions or concerns can also call the COVID-19 Information Hotline at 833-551-0518 or visit newmexico.gov, which is being updated regularly as a one-stop source for information for families, workers and others affected by and seeking more information about COVID-19. n

GOVERNOR MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM PRESS CONFERENCE – EXTENSION OF STAY-AT-HOME ORDER UNTIL MAY 15

In a press conference on Wednesday, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham and Human Services Secretary David Scrase announced that New Mexico has flattened the curve of new coronavirus cases and is on track to avoid shortages in hospital beds or ventilators thanks to the public’s efforts to abide by stay-at-home and social distancing guidelines.

But the Governor emphasized that New Mexico is not out of the fight yet and stated that she expected to extend the stay-at-home order until May 15.

The Governor said that “Between now and May 15 we will be in the preparation phase for a gradual and safe reopening of segments of our economy. The state will get direct input from business and employee groups in industries across the state – and we will make health-driven decisions about safe reopening procedures.”

The Governor announced a new NM Economic Recovery Council that is developing a plan for a phased reopening of the state based on a set of criteria, including new case rate trends, testing, contact tracing, PPE, hospital capacity, the health and well being of health care workers, and outbreak containment plans.

The governor went on to add, quote…

“I want to be crystal clear: While we’re making progress, we are not yet out of the woods. We will not be able to reopen everything on May 16. The virus will not be gone. The pandemic will not be over. There is no magical date.”

You can watch the full press conference on the Governor’s Facebook page: Facebook.com/GovMLG

APPLY NOW FOR PANDEMIC UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE FOR SELF-EMPLOYED, INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS AND GIG ECONOMY WORKERS

The NM Department of Workforce Solutions announced yesterday that the application for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, or PUA will be available on Sunday, April 26. Self-employed, independent contractors, and gig economy workers should begin the process NOW by applying for regular Unemployment Insurance benefits.

Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) is a new temporary federal program under the CARES Act that provides benefits to individuals who are not otherwise eligible for Unemployment Insurance.

You must be either unemployed or have hours reduced to fewer than 32 hours/week and must be earning less than the weekly amount of unemployment you receive.

Applying for PUA is a two-step process that you can begin immediately.

First, apply for regular Unemployment Insurance benefits at jobs.state.nm.us to determine if your income is covered by the regular state Unemployment Insurance (UI) program. If determined ineligible for regular UI benefits, you will then be cleared to apply for PUA benefits.

Once you are determined ineligible for regular benefits, you will be provided access to apply for PUA benefits through a link on your Unemployment Insurance Tax & Claims System homepage. This application will become available on Sunday, April 26.

Again, Self-employed, independent contractors, and gig economy workers should begin the process NOW by applying for regular Unemployment Insurance benefits.

More info and frequently asked questions can be found at dws.state.nm.us/COVID-19-Info

FOOD PANTRY DISTRIBUTION ON WEDNESDAY

The Commons will be holding its next food pantry Wednesday, April 29 from 4 – 6pm for folks in zip codes 88061, 88065, 88022, 88053. The commons is located at 501 E. 13th Street.

Because the food pantry is DRIVE-THRU only, please line up on Swan Street, facing South, and prepare to turn Right on 13th Street, at the corner where Knights of Columbus is located. Once you are in front of The Commons, volunteers will get your info and place a food box in your vehicle. The commons is working with limited volunteers for safety’s sake, so your patience and kindness is appreciated as they are trying their best to help as many people as they can during these challenging times. Bring your food pantry card or a picture ID and separate proof of physical address.

And those are the updates for Wednesday, April 23 as of 10 am

Please visit our website at GMCR.org for all of today’s updates and additional resources.

And remember to send us your updates and questions — email us at co**************************@***il.com or post on facebook @GilaMimbresCom munityRadio.

If you missed part of today’s show, Coronavirus Update is rebroadcast at 6pm and 8 am Monday through Friday and past shows are available 24/7 at gmcr.org/category/coronavirus-update