Coronavirus Update – April 29, 2020

Coronavirus updates for Grant County for Wednesday, April 29, 2020.  Our guest today on Coronavirus Update is Buck Burns, co-owner of Manzanita Ridge and founder of We Are Grant County mutual aid Facebook group about how to get help during the COVID-19 crisis.

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 29, 2020

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April 29, 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 – Wednesday , April 29 – 2,974  people have tested positive for COVID-19 in New Mexico, with 110 deaths, 157  hospitalized individuals, and 705 recoveries according to the New Mexico Department of Health. 

Grant County currently has 14 positive cases of coronavirus. In total, 61,745 COVID-19 tests have been performed in the state, and 482 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. 

NEW MEXICO DEPARTMENT OF WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS ANNOUNCES AVAILABILITY OF ADDITIONAL 13 WEEKS OF UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS

The NM Department of Workforce Solutions announced yesterday that an additional 13 weeks of benefits is available to individuals who have exhausted their regular state Unemployment Insurance claim with a benefit year that ended on or after July 1, 2019.

The additional weeks of benefits are provided by the federal Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation. Once a claimant’s benefit year ceases, they can then establish a new benefit year to requalify for regular unemployment. This program is for individuals who have exhausted 26 weeks of regular Unemployment Insurance benefits; are able to work, available to work, and actively seeking work; or are partially unemployed.

Eligible individuals will receive the same amount of Unemployment Insurance benefits as the previous weeks they received. They will also receive Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC), an additional $600 to their weekly benefits up until July 25, 2020 (Max. $1,061 in New Mexico).

To apply online:

Go to the New Mexico Workforce Connection Online System at www.jobs.state.nm.us. Individuals can then access the Unemployment Insurance Tax & Claims System.

On the left navigation menu, individuals will click on “Apply for Federal Extension Benefits”

To apply By phone:

Call 1-877-664-6984. The department will continue to operate under extended hours for the Unemployment Insurance Operations Center with the hours of 7am – 7pm Monday through Friday.

More information available at www.jobs.state.nm.us

MOTOR VEHICLE DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES AVAILABILITY OF TEMPORARY DRIVERS LICENSES

Most drivers whose licenses have expired since March 11, 2020 can now obtain a 90-day temporary license, and some will receive it by email automatically this week, according to the Motor Vehicle Department or MVD.

MVD has prepared the temporary licenses over 32,000 drivers whose licenses have either expired since March 11 or will expire by May 15.

More than 3,000 drivers who previously provided MVD with an email address do not have to take any action to receive the temporary license. Those drivers will be receiving a printable temporary license via email. 

Drivers who haven’t provided the MVD with an email address can obtain the temporary license at mvdonline.com by opening the “Online Services” menu near the top of the page, choosing “Eservices” and then “Drivers & Placards.”

 

NM SECRETARY OF STATE ENCOURAGES ALL VOTERS TO VOTE WITH AN ABSENTEE BALLOT

New Mexico’s 2020 Primary Election will take place on June 2, just over a month away

If you are registered with a major political party in New Mexico (Democratic, Republican, Libertarian) then you are eligible to vote in the 2020 Primary Election.

In response to the ongoing COVID-19 public health crisis, Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver and the state’s County Clerks are encouraging all voters to vote with an absentee ballot.

Casting your vote with an absentee ballot is safe and secure and will help prevent the spread of COVID-19 by limiting the number of people at polling places during the 2020 Primary Election.

All New Mexico voters registered with a major political party will have an absentee ballot application mailed to them. You can also apply for your absentee ballot online at NMVOTE.org or through your County Clerk. (NOTE: If you have already applied for an absentee ballot, no further action is required of you.)

Voters should complete their absentee ballot application and return it to their County Clerk using the postage paid mailer as soon as possible, but no later than May 28, 2020. This is the last day voters can submit an absentee ballot application for the 2020 Primary Election.

You will then receive your ballot for the 2020 Primary Election in the mail from your County Clerk. Complete your ballot and return it in the postage paid envelope in the mail or drop it off with your County Clerk before 7:00pm on June 2, 2020.

You may also track the status of your application and your ballot at NMVOTE.org. By logging into NMVOTE.ORG, you can confirm whether your application has been received by your County Clerk, whether or not your ballot has been mailed to you, and whether or not your ballot has been received back by the County Clerk.

If you have questions, you can contact Grant County Clerk Marisa Castrillo at 575-574-0042. 

Further information about voting and elections, can be found at NMVOTE.ORG or through the Grant County Clerk’s office at grantcountynm.gov.

SPECIAL MEETING REGARDING GILA REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER

In a press release issued last week –

The Board of County Commissioners of Grant County will consider assuming the governance of Gila Regional Medical Center at a special meeting to be held at 9am this Friday, May 1.

Recent events have raised serious concerns regarding the financial viability and continuity of operations of the Gila Regional Medical Center. GRMC is a county-owned hospital that was established pursuant to New Mexico’s Hospital Funding Act. The stated purpose of the Act is to enable and encourage counties to provide appropriate and adequate hospital facilities for the sick in all geographic areas of the state. 

 The act provides counties broad powers to take necessary and expedient action to carry out this purpose.

Accordingly, the Board of County Commissioners of Grant County will consider all available options to assist GRMC in the provision of much needed quality healthcare to the people of Grant County and its surrounding areas. Such options include revocation of the powers delegated to the hospital’s Board of Trustees and the retention of a professional healthcare management company to assess and remedy shortfalls in the leadership and management of GRMC. There are no plans to sell the hospital.

The meeting will take place in the Commission Meeting Room at the Grant County Administration Center located at 1400 Highway 180 East here in Silver City, with remote participation available. The agenda for this meeting may be altered up to seventy-two (72) hours prior to the meeting; copies can be obtained from the County Manager’s Office or viewed online at grantcountynm.gov. 

Due to the Coronavirus Emergency declared by the governor and the limits on the number of persons gathering, except for essential functions, the meeting will be closed to the public. However, it may be viewed live on the County’s YouTube Channel or later as a recording on the County’s website at grantcountynm.gov. 

Public input will be via email and comments must be submitted prior to the meeting. Comments may be emailed to kh****@***********nm.gov, that’s k-h-u-b-b-s @grantcountynm.gov with Public Comment noted in the subject line. Comments will be read into the minutes.

For more information on this evolving story, visit the Silver City Daily Press website at scdailypress.com

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.