Coronavirus Update – August 12, 2020

Coronavirus updates for Grant County for Wednesday, August 12, 2020.  Our guest today on Coronavirus Update is Jason Espinoza, Executive Director of the New Mexico Society of Association Executives and he’ll be talking about the new COVID-Safe Practices Certification Program – NM Safe Certified – now available for free to New Mexico businesses.

LOCAL COVID-19 TESTING SCHEDULE

Grant County Public Health Office will provide free testing every Monday from 8:00a.m. to 11:00a.m. for utility workers and Food Industry Workers.  Appointments are required and must be scheduled by calling Grant County Public Health Office at 575-538-5318 (ext. 4) by noon on the preceding Friday. 

Testing will also be conducted every Tuesday from 8:30a.m. to 11:00a.m. for anyone at the Grant County Public Health Office.

Testing is free, but those who have insurance should bring their card with them.

Throat swab and nasal swab testing options are available. 

Appointments can be scheduled by registering on the following website: cvtestreg.nmhealth.org Once registered, you will receive a code. Please save this code and use it when making your appointment by calling: 575-538-5318 (ext. 4).

The Grant County Public Health Office is located at 2610 N. Silver Street (across the street from the Swimming Pool).

CVS Pharmacy Drive-thru in Silver City is making Self-swab tests available to individuals meeting CDC criteria, in addition to state and age guidelines. Patients must register in advance at CVS.com

Hidalgo Medical Services (HMS) in Silver City is doing testing on weekdays except for Tuesday at their clinic at  1007 Pope Street in Silver City and at their Lordsburg clinic on weekdays except for Thursdays at 530 De Moss Street. Call 1-888-271-3596 for an appointment. Testing is free and expanded to everyone via a drive-up testing approach.

EMERGENCY AMENDMENT REQUIRES EMPLOYERS TO DISCLOSE POSITIVE COVID-19 CASES TO STATE

The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) filed an emergency rule that requires employers to report positive COVID-19 cases to NMED within four hours of being notified of the case. The emergency amendment went into effect Wednesday, August 5, 2020 and will remain in effect for no more than 120 days, unless NMED proposes and the Environmental Improvement Board adopts a permanent rule prior to the end of the 120-day period.

By requiring employers to report positive cases in a timely manner, the state will be able to more rapidly respond to workplaces, providing immediate guidance and support to employers and preventing the spread of COVID-19 beyond the infected employees.

Information about the emergency rule is available on the NMED COVID-19 resources webpage: https://www.env.nm.gov/

SILVER CITY ISSUES NOTICE OF INTENT TO ADOPT FACE MASK USE ORDINANCE

The Town of Silver City released a Notice of Intent to adopt an ordinance regarding the use of face coverings by employees and customers when inside places of business and by all members of the public when in public places. 

Sponsored by Councilor Cynthia Ann Bettison, the public can comment on the ordinance until August 25. Consideration of adoption of the ordinance is currently scheduled for and will not take place prior to August 25, 2020.The complete ordinance is posted on the Town’s website at www.townofsilvercity.org. Comments may be submitted on the Town’s website, or via email to  in**@to**************.org , or by writing to the Town Council via Town of Silver City, P.O. Box 1188, Silver City, NM 88062. Copies are available at City Hall, 101 W. Broadway.

WI-FI AND TECH ACCESS FOR VIRTUAL LEARNING

As students plan return to school with online learning, access to the internet can be a challenge for many Grant County residents, here are some locations where individuals can access free WiFi hotspots throughout the county.

The equipment for the Silver City Public Library’s wireless internet connection was recently upgraded. To connect, find the wireless network name SCPLibrary. There is no password. Please maintain safe distance from others when using the wireless internet outside the library building.

Wireless internet access is available in several other places in the region: 

The Bayard Public Library wi-fi is on. It is network CBCI-DO32-5 and the password is highspeed, all lower case.

At Binary Circuits, 907 1/2 Pope Street between the old LifeQuest building and HMS (electricity is also available)

Other sites wireless internet sites in area the are available thanks to WNM Communications:

Silver City – Gough Park

Bayard – Bayard Community Center 

Santa Clara –  Splash Park

Cliff – WNM Communications Office 

Hurley –  Ball Park

Mimbres – San Lorenzo Elementary

Lordsburg – R V Taylor Elementary

Glenwood – Library

Reserve – Library & School

Deming at Nacio Park, John T Waites &  at the Splash Park

The New Mexico Public Education Department encourages families with children in school to look into the Internet Essentials program for getting home internet: https://www.internetessentials.com/

Or, see if you are eligible for the Lifeline program for internet discounts: 

https://www.lifelinesupport.org/ You can get your discount for internet service with a variety of internet companies.

Call the  Silver City Public Library at 575-538-3672  for more information and to ask about borrowing one of their wireless internet hotspots.

2020 CENSUS REMINDER

Did you know that the census results affect planning and funding for education—including programs such as Head Start, Pell Grants, school lunches, rural education, adult education, and grants for preschool special education?

If you haven’t responded to the 2020 Census yet, now is the time. The results of the 2020 Census will help determine how hundreds of billions of dollars in federal funding flow into communities every year for the next decade. That funding shapes many different aspects of every community, no matter the size, no matter the location.

Here in Grant County, only 49.2 % of residents have responded to date.   Thank you if you’ve responded to the census, but if you haven’t: Our community needs you to get counted!

The easiest way to get counted is to go online to 2020census.gov and fill out the on-line questionnaire. It takes about 10 minutes.

You can also fill out your paper questionnaire that you should have received in the mail.

Due to the coronavirus outbreak, all public locations for census taking are closed.

So if you do not have access to the internet or have not received a paper questionnaire, you can call the 2020 Census Assistance line at 1-844-330-2020.

Additionally, Belinda Jones of the El Refugio is offering to help walk anyone through the form. You can reach her at 575-538-2125 extension 17.

FOOD PANTRY SCHEDULES

The Commons will be holding free produce distributions today and next Wednesday August 19th for all Grant County residents from 9am until all produce has been given away. All are eligible, NO DOCUMENTATION necessary.  The Commons is located at 501 East 13th Street, next door to Knights of Columbus. For more information please contact The Commons at 575-388-2988 

The Food Pantry at the Gospel Mission located at 111 South Texas Street in Silver City is open for drive thru only on Wednesdays 8:30 am – 9:30 am. There is a also a Daily soup kitchen: Breakfast takes place from 8:30-9:30 Mon-Fri and Lunch occurs every day from 12-1 pm. Call 575 388-5071 for more information.

St. Francis Newman Center Food Pantry located at 914 W. 13th St. Silver City is open every Monday at 4 pm and cash assistance for rent, utilities, bus passes and prescription drugs is also provided.  Call 575-388-4933 for more information.

NEW MEXICO CRISIS AND ACCESS LINE

COVID-19 creates stressful times, but we are resilient and will get through it together. It’s normal to feel sad, overwhelmed, anxious and worried about the COVID virus. Everyone reacts differently, and feelings may come and go. Take care of your mental, behavioral, and emotional health.

If you or someone you know is experiencing overwhelming depression, anxiety, or grief, reach out to talk to someone free and confidentially anytime, anywhere at 1-855-NMCRISIS that’s (1-855-662-7474).

 The Talk Helpline, 1-855-NMCRISIS, provides immediate assistance, referrals, and someone to talk to in times of overwhelming feelings. Professional counselor staff are trained to help people manage stress reactions, anxiety, dealing with loss and promoting positive coping activities, including those that help strengthen resilience.

The COVID-19 talk helpline campaign aims to lessen anxiety through education and information so individuals and their communities understand people can take control of the emotional toll of a crisis.

The 24/7 talk helpline is supported by the Behavioral Health Services Division’s statewide New Mexico Crisis and Access Line, a centralized, single, free telephone number to get immediate emotional support assistance and resources. Find more info at www.nmcrisisline.com or call 1-855-NMCRISIS (662-7474)

Please visit our website at GMCR.org for all of today’s updates, as well as replays of todays and past shows

And be sure to visit our new website, grantcountycoronavirusupdate.org, a clearinghouse of local, state and federal information and resources to help keep you, your family and our community safe in these times.

While you’re there, you can  also join our mailing list to receive these daily updates via email.

And don’t forget that you can send us your updates via our new email address at in**@gr**************************.org or on facebook @ Gila Mimbres Community Radio.