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RESOURCES
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
Donations to Community COVID-19 Response – Grant County Community Foundation
Grant County Coronavirus Update website – grantcountycoronavirusupdate.org
Grant County, We Need You. COVID-19 Video Message – link
Grant County Commissioner Alicia Edwards COVID-19 Video Message – link
Coronavirus Update is broadcast live on Gila/Mimbres Community Radio 89.1 FM Silver City on Wednesdays at Noon and rebroadcast Wednesdays at 6 pm and Thursdays at 8 am
Or listen to today’s interview in the player below…
Right click and select “Save Link As” to download
TODAY’S NEW MEXICO COVID-19 HEADLINES
New Mexico health officials said Tuesday they are hoping to boost the number of people getting tested for COVID-19 through a new program that will provide free, at-home test kits to anyone who requests one.
Through a partnership with Vault Medical Services, the saliva tests can be ordered online at learn.vaulthealth.com/nm/. All that’s needed is an email address and photo identification.
State officials said the new at-home option expands what they described as one of the most wide-reaching testing programs in the nation. The state Health Department has been operating in-person testing locations in every county since early in the pandemic, including in spots that have connectivity issues.
The state is now averaging more than 14,000 tests a day, and that’s expected to grow with the new program. In all, more than 1.8 million tests have been conducted since the beginning of the pandemic.
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said in a statement that expanded testing will help drive down positivity rates because health officials can better understand the scope and spread of the virus. The positivity rate is among the benchmarks the state considers when determining whether the risk level is decreasing and counties can begin to relax public health restrictions.
Health officials reported an additional 1,272 confirmed COVID-19 cases Tuesday, pushing the statewide total to more than 132,000 since the pandemic began. Another 23 deaths also were reported, bringing the state total to more than 2,200.
In Grant County, the Department of Health reported 130 new COVID cases since last week for a total of 785 cases.
In Grant County there are 278 reported COVID cases recovered, leaving 507 active cases in the county as of Tuesday. There have been 9 reported deaths in Grant County. The most recent death was announced on December 16th. A female in her 70s. The individual had underlying health conditions.
Click here for a breakdown of COVID-19 by county and demographic information
Top health officials said during a briefing that New Mexico appears to be on the downside of the latest surge as the seven-day rolling average of confirmed cases has been declining. While test positivity remains high, it’s lower than it was just a couple of weeks ago. (Source)
“We think the drop that we’re seeing in cases is related to the reset and people being careful over Thanksgiving,” Human Services Secretary Dr. David Scrase said, referring to tougher public health restrictions that were imposed in mid-November.
Officials still are worried about Christmas and the potential for a post-holiday surge if people choose to gather with family or friends.
As a reminder, the state of New Mexico’s emergency public health order strictly prohibits mass gatherings, defined as a group of more than five individuals who do not regularly reside with one another. New Mexicans should stay home except for outings absolutely necessary for their health, safety or welfare. Persons arriving in New Mexico from “high-risk” states are required to physically separate from others in a residence or place of lodging for at least 14 days from the date of their entry into New Mexico or for the duration of their presence in the state, whichever is shorter.
If you choose to attend a holiday gathering with others, you significantly raise the risk of not only contracting the virus yourself but spreading the virus to friends and loved ones.
If you still decide to take unnecessary risks and attend or host a traditional holiday celebration, adopt the following safeguards from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
- Wear a mask.
- Strictly limit the number of guests in attendance.
- Talk with guests ahead of time to set expectations for safely celebrating together.
- Clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces and items between use.
- If celebrating indoors, make sure to open windows.
- Limit the number of people in food preparation areas.
- If sharing food, have one person serve food and use single-use options, like plastic utensils. Encourage guests to bring their own food and drink.
Instruct guests to monitor themselves for symptoms for 14 days after the event. - Self-isolate after the gathering with others – symptoms can develop over the course of 2 weeks; even if you do not feel sick, or feel sick immediately, you can spread the virus.
Click here for the state of New Mexico public health guidance, warnings for Christmas holiday
To everyone who is staying home during the holidays, we know this is a difficult choice — thank you! You are saving lives in our community. Prevention is the best remedy.
ECONOMIC RELIEF NEWS
Congress on Monday night passed an economic relief package that will provide a round of $600 stimulus payments to most Americans and partly restore the enhanced federal unemployment benefit, offering $300 for 11 weeks. The agreement also contains provisions related to student loans, rental assistance and medical bills.
Individual adults with adjusted gross income on their 2019 tax returns of up to $75,000 a year would receive a $600 payment, and heads of households making up to $112,500 and a couple (or someone whose spouse died in 2020) earning up to $150,000 a year would get twice that amount. If they have dependent children, they would also get $600 for each child. (Source)
State officials are warning that just because congressional leaders reached an agreement to add $300 per week to state unemployment payments and extend unemployment claims, it could take time before those funds reach people in New Mexico. And late Tuesday, President Trump threatened to veto the agreement putting it in limbo. (Source)
FOOD PANTRY SCHEDULES
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. Emergency Dry Food Boxes are available once a month to individuals upon request. There is also a Daily soup kitchen: Breakfast takes place from 9:00-10:00 Mon-Fri and Lunch occurs every day from 12-1 pm. Showers and clothes are also made available to those in need. 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. Cash assistance for rent, utilities, bus passes and prescription drugs is also provided. Call 575-388-4933 for more information.
If you are a senior or disabled adult and cannot access groceries, please call the state’s Senior and Disabled Adult Food Hotline at 1-800-432-2080. Leave a message with your name, telephone number and city that you reside in and you will be contacted within 2 hours of your call.
The Commons regular food pantry distribution will be next Wednesday, December 30th from 4pm-6pm and the First Saturday of 2021, January 2nd, from 10am to 12pm. 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 or visit the website https://thecommonsgrantcounty.org
