Coronavirus Update – April 9, 2020

Coronavirus updates for Grant County for Thursday, April 9, 2020. Our guest today is Jeff Goin, director of the Lotus Center of Silver City (lotuscentersc.org).  Jeff will offer some ideas on ways that people can navigate the waters of the COVID-19 outbreak in a healthy way, both physically and emotionally. 

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 9, 2020

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April 9, 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.

865 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in New Mexico, with 16 deaths, 59 hospitalized individuals, and 201 have been designated as recovered according to the New Mexico Department of Health

In Grant County, 4 people have tested positive for coronavirus.

The NM Department of Health advises that the best way to avoid getting or spreading COVID-19 continues to be staying home. However, the CDC has issued new guidelines recommending that people wear cloth face coverings in public settings like grocery stores and pharmacies where it could be difficult to maintain social distancing. The CDC ads that wearing a non-medical mask is an additional and voluntary public health measure that could keep asymptomatic carriers from transmitting the disease to others. However, it is not a replacement for other important steps such as staying home, physical distancing and hand-washing.

Please remember that the cloth face coverings are recommended for the public, while surgical masks or N-95 respirators should be reserved for medical professionals. Those are critical supplies that must continue to be reserved for healthcare workers and other medical first responders.

Once again, the best prevention is to stay home and wash your hands frequently with soap and water.

More information is available at cv.nmhealth.org

COVID-19 Scams

Yesterday, the New Mexico Office of Superintendent of Insurance (“Superintendent”) and the New Mexico Office of the Attorney General issued warnings for businesses and consumers that con artists and scammers are taking advantage of the panic, fear and confusion surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, and have intensified efforts to defraud and steal. The Superintendent and the Attorney General are urging all businesses and consumers to exercise extreme caution if you receive any unsolicited letters, phone calls or text messages.

Scams take many forms and are constantly changing, but most scams follow a common pattern. The scammer will use an unsolicited letter, phone call, or text message to warn you about a risk to your health, safety, finances, insurance or business. The scammer likely will offer you a “time sensitive” opportunity, or tell you that you must take immediate action. This is normally followed by a request to purchase a product or to provide personal identification information.

Very often, the scammer’s request or notice will appear to come from a government agency, a reputable charity, or even an established business. A phone call or text message may appear to come from a number you recognize. These deceptions are called “spoofing”, and are intended to cause you to lower your guard.

Once you provide access to your information, a scammer may steal your identity or your money, or may sell your information to criminals on the dark web.

If you think you’ve been the victim of a scam, you can contact the Office of the Attorney General at nmag.gov or call 1-844-255-9210 and press number 5. If the scam relates to insurance or insurance coverage, you can call the Insurance fraud hotline at 1-877-807-4010 or report it online at www.stopfraud.org

Self-Employed Stimulus Payment

The New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions is offering one-time grants in the amount of $750 each to self-employed individuals affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. The Self-Employed Stimulus Payment, or SESP, will be available to the first 2,000 applicants that qualify. 

This opportunity is funded by $1.5 million from the Rapid Response Layoff Aversion program under the directive of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. 

The on-line application process was open at 2pm on Wednesday, but due to unforeseen technical issues the link for the SESP was temporarily removed from the department website, jobs.state.nm.us. Please be aware that the link will be reposted today, April 9, and will be announced on social media and the website once available.

More information at jobs.state.nm.us

Electric Utility Assistance

During the coronavirus COVID-19 situation, the PNM Good Neighbor Fund will help pay electric bills for New Mexico customers who now find their household suddenly falling into a low-income status after their employer either cut their hours or closed the doors due to COVID-19. The PNM Good Neighbor Fund is now    paying up to $150 toward PNM electric bills for low-income families through April 30. 

To see if you qualify, call 505-967-8045. You will be asked to email the following required documents: 1) Proof of household income for all adults in the home; 2) Copies of IDs for everyone in the home; 3) A check stub for the employer or business that you can no longer work with due to COVID-19; 4) A copy of your PNM bill that is in the name of yourself or someone living in your home.

For more on income information, necessary documentation, and more, please go to pnm.com/good-neighbor-fund

Updates to COVID-19 Testing Clinics in Grant County

The Gila Regional Medical Center started its COVD-19 screening and testing clinic yesterday and will continue testing every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8 AM to 4 PM. Testing will be taking place at La Montana Plaza at Gila Family Medicine, located at 1260 E 32nd Street, across the street from Gila Regional Medical Center. Before going, you must call (575) 388-4103 for an appointment to be tested or seen. This line is open Monday thru Friday.

Silver Health Care will be conducting COVID-19 screening and testing. To register for testing, please call the hotline at (575) 956-1320. Testing will be conducted at the doctor’s discretion.

Hidalgo Medical Services is conducting Screening and testing for established patients only. To book and appointment, call (575) 388-1511

NM Department of Health is doing COVID-19 testing on Tuesdays from 8:30 am to 11:30 am at the Grant County Public health Office located at 2610 N. Silver Street in Silver City. Before going, you must call 575.538.5318 ext. 4. Doctor referrals are no longer needed, but patients will need an appointment.

RESOURCES FROM INTERVIEW WITH JEFF GOIN, LOTUS CENTER OF SILVER CITY

Lotus Center of Silver City – lotuscentersc.org

Lotus Center YouTube Channel for online meditations and yoga classes – link

Lotus Center Workshops and Events via Zoom – link