Coronavirus Update – April 16, 2020

Coronavirus updates for Grant County for Thursday, April 16, 2020. Our guest today is Lee Gruber, Executive Director with Southwest New Mexico Arts, Culture and Tourism, who will be talking with us about entrepreneurship training through a new program called Co-Starters and the impacts of COVID-19 on local entrepreneurship.

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 coronavirusupdategrantcounty@gmail.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 16, 2020

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April 16, 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 16 – 1,484 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in New Mexico, with 36 deaths, 90 hospitalized individuals, and 353 recoveries according to the New Mexico Department of Health. Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham reported yesterday that 22 New Mexicans with COVID-19 are on ventilators.

Grant County currently has 11 positive cases of coronavirus.

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. These additional restrictions have been enacted to aggressively minimize person-to-person contact and ensure spread is mitigated.

Although New Mexico’s doubling-time in new cases has slowed to 4.6 days as a result of public health measures such as social distancing, new COVID19 cases in New Mexico continue to rise and the Governor strongly emphasizes the importance of the stay-at-home order and following other public health guidelines to stopping the spread of the coronavirus.

For more information, go to cv.nmhealth.org

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

ECONOMIC IMPACT PAYMENTS ON THEIR WAY

Economic Impact Payments under the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, also known as the CARES Act started flowing to taxpayers this week. Taxpayers with direct deposit information on file with the Internal Revenue Service can expect their payments more quickly. If you would like to Check your payment status, Confirm your payment type as either direct deposit or check or if you would like to set up a direct deposit account with the IRS and they haven’t sent your payment yet, visit the IRS COVID-19 website at irs.gov/coronavirus/economic-impact-payments  

WIC PROGRAM SHIFTS TO CURBSIDE SERVICES

The New Mexico Department of Public Health’s Women, Infants, and Children, commonly known as the WIC program reminds clients that all main offices remain open during the COVID-19 pandemic, with services modified to a curbside service to limit direct contact and practice social distancing while expediting services. 

The WIC program safeguards the health of New Mexico’s low-income women who are either pregnant, postpartum or nursing, as well as infants and children up to age 5 by providing nutritious foods to supplement diets, information on healthy eating including nursing promotion and support, as well as referrals to healthcare. 

Due to the pandemic, the WIC program is now providing four months of food benefits instead of three to further limit direct contact for services.  

Applicants and participants may request services by contacting local WIC offices, or visiting New Mexico’s WIC website, nmwic.org.

DISCOUNTED CELL PHONE SERVICE FOR LOW-INCOME CUSTOMERS

SafeLink Wireless is proud to offer LifeLine service, a program that enables qualifying customers to receive discounts on monthly telephone service. You will receive free cellular service, a SIM card, and the assurance that you will get no bills and no contracts ever.

Actual requirements vary by state, but in general to qualify for Lifeline, subscribers must either have an income that is at or below 135% of the federal Poverty Guidelines, or participate in one of the following assistance programs:

• Medicaid
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as SNAP
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
• Section 8 Federal Public Housing Assistance
• Or the Veterans and Survivors Pension Benefit

Understanding the unprecedented gravity of the COVID-19 situation and the need to remain connected, Safelink is providing free of charge, an extra 5GB of Data for each of the months of March and April. The deadline is April 28 to apply.

More information available at safelinkwireless.com

SILVER SCHOOLS HAVE CHANGED THEIR LEARNING PACKET DISTRIBUTION TIMES

Silver Consolidated School District is creating two distribution times for parents and students to pick up learning packets as part of the district’s Continuous Learning Plan in response to school closures.   

Because of increased numbers of requests for paper packets, the District is offering a drive thru pickup in the rear parking lot of the Silver Schools Board Office at 2810 North Swan Street on Tuesday, April 21, 2020.  

Grades 1-8 will be available from 4:30PM – 6:00PM with Grades 9-12 distributed from 6:30PM – 8:00PM.  

Signs will be posted directing drivers to the correct pick up location and those who are picking up for multiple students can drive thru any line and an individual will assist in the distribution of all materials for your student(s).  

If a conflict exists with a family commitment or work schedule, parents can do drive-thru pick up at either time and every effort will be made to distribute the materials in a timely manner.  This will be the final distribution for the rest of the school year with no other mass distributions scheduled.

If you are unable to make these times, please contact your teacher or building administrator for assistance and potential options for pick up. The district wants to provide your student every opportunity to be successful in this difficult time and will work with you to get access to the learning materials your student needs.

PLEASE NOTE:  For parents who have been contacted by the Special Education Department, your supplies and materials will also be available in the same time slots for pickup.  Any questions may be directed to the student’s teacher or the Special Education Department.

For Cliff Families:  Please contact the administration as they are coordinating efforts with families to assist in a variety of activities. 

For more information, go to silverschools.org

RESOURCES FROM INTERVIEW WITH LEE GRUBER

Southwest New Mexico Arts, Culture and Tourism – swnmact.org 

Southwest New Mexico Arts, Culture and Tourism exists to preserve, enhance, and sustain rural economic development initiatives and the creative economy in Southwestern New Mexico, including Silver City and Grant County, through: education, cultural and historic preservation, promotion of tourism, sponsoring arts and cultural events, operation of arts and cultural facilities, beautification and installation of public works and monuments, and engaging the community in arts and cultural activities.

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 coronavirusupdategrantcounty@gmail.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.