Grant County Coronavirus Update

January 27, 2021

Our guest on this week’s show is Carla Wilhite, Occupational Therapist, professor in the  University of New Mexico Occupational Therapy Graduate Program, and Principal Investigator on a study of New Mexicans’ experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic that will inform state leaders and policymakers to better address  public health emergencies in the future. This will be the topic of todays show.

To participate in Carla Wilhite’s survey, you can reach her at 505-272-3324 or cwilhite@salude.unm.edu

Coronavirus Update is broadcast live on Gila/Mimbres Community Radio KURU 89.1 FM in Silver City.

Tune in or stream online at GMCR.org Monday through Friday at Noon and rebroadcast weekdays at 6 pm and  8 am

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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.

The state reported 494 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, continuing a recent downward trend.

Monday was the first time since mid-October that the state reported fewer than 500 cases in a day, and it dropped the state’s seven-day average to 776 cases per day.

The state reported 12 additional deaths Monday, bringing the statewide toll to 3,157 deaths related to COVID-19. The seven-day average of deaths now stands at 28.86 deaths per day, according to an Albuquerque  Journal analysis.

Dr. David Scrase, Cabinet secretary for human services, said COVID-related deaths typically come about four weeks after a confirmed case. Based on the current trends, it’s likely the state will see bigger declines in daily deaths in early February.

Also, Scrase said on Monday the state’s positivity rate, meaning the share of coronavirus tests that come back positive, had dipped to 7.3% after being above 10% for several months.

Source: https://www.abqjournal.com/2341054/nm-reports-fewer-than-500-new-covid-19-cases-12-new-deaths.html 

Grant County News:

In Grant County, the Department of Health reported 129 new COVID cases since last week, for a total of 1244 cases.  

In Grant County, there are 535 reported COVID cases recovered, leaving 684 active cases in the county as of Tuesday, indicating a drop in active cases by 24, and 41 more people recovered.

There have been 3 reported deaths in Grant County since last week, bringing the total to 25 local deaths. 

Source: cvprovider.nmhealth.org/public-dashboard.html

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Vaccine Information

The New Mexico Department of Health on Friday reiterated the sequence of COVID-19 vaccine distribution.

New Mexico is currently in the first portion of Phase 1B – people 75 years and older. Soon, the state will expand vaccinations to those with qualifying medical conditions. Health care professionals and other workers in Phase 1A remain eligible for vaccination. 

“New Mexico has two goals: to distribute vaccine as quickly as possible, and to ensure that vaccine goes to those who are most exposed – and most vulnerable – to COVID-19.”

New Mexicans who wish to follow the progress of the state’s vaccination campaign – or who wish to view a map of available provider locations – can visit the state’s vaccination dashboard at cvvaccine.nmhealth.org/public-dashboard.html, which is updated Monday through Friday (excluding holidays).

How does the vaccine registration process work?

There are 4 steps:

1. Register at vaccinenm.org
2. Complete your profile

——-> Wait for DMDOH to contact you ←——–

1. Schedule your appointment
2. Receive the Covid-19 vaccine

 

There’s also call center support for vaccine registration using the Department of Health hotline

The New Mexico Department of Health announced that the DOH hotline now offers support for questions surrounding vaccine registration.

Users who have questions or would like support with the registration process – including New Mexicans who do not have internet access – can dial 1-855-600-3453, press option 0 for vaccine questions, and then option 4 for tech support.

Users who have other vaccine-related questions can call 1-855-600-3453 and simply press option 0 for vaccine questions.

New Mexicans are encouraged to register for vaccine at vaccinenm.org . 

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Re-opening Update

The state’s red-to-green public health order in which counties are evaluated over a two-week period for daily cases and test positivity rate has been update today and will stay in place for the next two weeks. Grant County has now been upgraded to the Yellow category, with a test positivity rate of 4.35% and an average of 33.60 cases per 100,000.

Counties not meeting daily case thresholds of eight or fewer cases per 100,000 population and test positivity rates below 5% follow the strictest red guidelines; those meeting one of these benchmarks have some expanded capacity; and green counties—those meeting both requirements —have the fewest restrictions.  

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Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham announced yesterday in her State of the State address that beginning February 8, 2021, all schools — elementary and secondary — in all counties will be eligible to enter the hybrid mode of instruction that includes both online and in-person learning.  Schools must follow the guidelines outlined in the current Public Education Department Reentry Guidance Document and updated Rapid Response Toolkit.  More information at: webnew.ped.state.nm.us/

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Resources

Food Pantries

The Commons next regular food pantry distribution will be TODAY Wednesday, January 27th from 4pm-6pm.  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 thecommonsgrantcounty.org

As a reminder the Food Pantries at the Gospel Mission and St. Francis Newman Center are open every week……

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.

Unemployment Assistance

Weekly certifications for the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) programs under the Continued Assistance Act (CAA) will begin on February 7, 2021. On that date, the link to file an initial claim, reopen your claim, or file your weekly certification will appear on your Unemployment Insurance (UI) claimant homepage. 

On that date, eligible claimants will be able to certify for retroactive payments starting with the week ending January 2, 2021. Each eligible week will also include the additional $300 Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) payment along with the weekly benefit amount received. 

Unemployment Benefit Programs Impacted:

• Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC)
• Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA)
• Federal-State Extended Benefits (FDEB1)

If you are an individual filing or certifying for benefits, you can log into your Unemployment Insurance account at www.jobs.state.nm.us. 

Utility Assistance

PNM announced it is extending help for families, small businesses and nonprofits struggling to pay their electric bill. The PNM COVID Customer Relief Fund helps eligible customers pay down, or even pay off, their past-due PNM bill.

The funding, originally slated to end in December 2020, has just been extended to March 31, 2021, due to the number of customers that are still experiencing financial hardship from the pandemic. Apply by calling PNM at 855-364-2950 between 7:30 a.m. and 6 p.m., Monday through Friday or go to www.pnm.com  

Business Assistance

If you need assistance in navigating the process for PPP or any other relief programs, please contact the office of Senator Martin Heinrich, who is actively offering aid to everyone involved.

Paycheck Protection Program

The next round of new PPP funds that Congress passed as part of the latest relief package in December just opened up for applications.

This latest round will be much easier for small businesses to access, with some necessary flexibility to allow businesses to address their specific needs and still get their loans forgiven. That includes new provisions that allow restaurants, hotels, and other businesses in related services to calculate a higher PPP forgivable loan amount in order to aid industries that have been severely impacted by state and local restrictions. Also eligible for this round of PPP are housing cooperatives, local newspapers and TV and radio broadcasters, and 501(c)(6) nonprofits, including local chambers of commerce and tourism organizations.

>>>You can find more information about how to apply for the Paycheck Protection Program here.

Next Round of LISC Rural Relief Small Business Grants Open from January 26th through February 2nd 

Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) is offering Rural Relief Small Business Grants for up to $20,000. Grants support small businesses and enterprises affected by COVID-19 across the country, especially those in underserved communities, including entrepreneurs of color, women- and veteran-owned businesses that often lack access to flexible, affordable capital. Applications are being accepted in “rounds” and a new application for each round must be submitted to be considered for funding in that round. The next application round is January 26 through February 2. Visit  lisc.org/ for more information.     

Only small businesses located in rural communities are eligible at this time. Rural communities are defined as having a population of 50,000 or less.

COVID disaster loan extended through 2021

The U.S. Small Business Administration announced that the deadline to apply for the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program for the COVID-19 pandemic disaster declaration has been extended to Dec. 31, 2021.

If you are a small business, nonprofit organization of any size, or a U.S. agricultural business with 500 or fewer employees that have suffered substantial economic injury as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic, you can apply for the COVID-19 EIDL.

EIDL loan applications will continue to be accepted through December 2021

Pending the availability of funds. Loans are offered at a 3.75 percent interest rate for small businesses and a 2.75 percent interest rate for nonprofit organizations, with a 30-year maturity and an automatic deferment of one year before monthly payments begin.

Eligible small businesses and nonprofits can apply for the program at sba.gov/disaster.

School Resources

ENGAGE New Mexico.

For many students, going from a traditional classroom to learning from home can be a real challenge. New Mexico’s Public Education Department has partnered with Graduation Alliance to provide an extra layer of support for students in grades K-12 and their families who might be struggling with these changes.

Students who choose to participate in the program will get an academic coach to work with them to answer questions, connect them with resources, and develop a plan to get on track and finish the school year strong. Graduation Alliance is reaching out to students through phone calls, emails, text messages and more to get students started. Go to parentsnm.graduationalliance.com or call 505-340-3250 for more information .

Mental Health Resources

In New Mexico, you can talk to trained staff if you have mental health or substance abuse concerns: call the NM Crisis and Access Line at 1-855-NMCRISIS (662-7474) 24 hours a day/7 days a week. You are not alone and it is normal to feel anxious and worried! You can confidentially reach out to talk to someone anytime and anyplace. 

 

If you want to hurt yourself, reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. 

Call 911 if you are in an EMERGENCY SITUATION.  If you feel like you’re going to hurt yourself, it is an emergency!

If You Just Want Someone to Hear You Out…

Call the Peer-to-Peer Warmline at (855) 466-7100.  They are available to talk every day from 3:30p – 11:30p MT.  They are available by text from 6:00p – 11:00p MT

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COVID-19 Testing

Do you need to get tested for COVID? Are you experiencing 

• Fever or chills

• Cough

• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

• Fatigue

• Muscle or body aches

• Headache

• New loss of taste or smell

• Sore throat

• Congestion or runny nose

• Nausea or vomiting

• Diarrhea

Local COVID testing schedule

The HMS Mobile Clinic will be doing Covid Testing and offering Flu shots for Adults only:

Thursday, January 28, 2021

Animas

Animas Clinic

1 Panther Blvd.

10:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M.

 

Monday, February 1, 2021

San Lorenzo

San Lorenzo Elementary School parking lot

2655 NM Hwy. 35, Hanover NM

10:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M.

 

Tuesday, February 2, 2021

Hurley

Gateway Grill parking lot

18000 US Hwy. 180

9:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. (12:00 – 12:30 for lunch)

 

Wednesday, February 3, 2021

Silver City

Gough Park

1201 N. Pope Street

8:30 A.M. to 12 P.M.

For upcoming dates and locations go to the HMS facebook page at www.facebook.com/HidalgoMedicalServices

Hidalgo Medical Services (HMS) testing is now available  Monday through Friday 8:30 am to 2:30pm (closed 12-1pm for lunch) in both Silver City  at 1007 Pope Street, and at their Lordsburg clinic on 530 De Moss Street.  Call 1-575-388-1511 for an appointment.

The Grant County Public Health Office provides free testing every Tuesday from 8:00a.m. to 10:00a.m. and every Wednesday afternoon from 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm. 

Appointments can be scheduled by registering at cvtestreg.nmhealth.org/ 

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. Hours are 9am – 6pm M-F, 9am-5pm Sat, 10am – 5pm Sun. Patients must register in advance at CVS.com

At-home, self-administered COVID-19 saliva test opportunities

 At-home, self-administered COVID-19 saliva tests offer accurate laboratory-confirmed results returned within 24-48 hours of receipt of the sample.

The free tests are available to New Mexico residents regardless of exposure risk– whether they are symptomatic or asymptomatic, and whether they have come into close contact with a confirmed COVID-19 positive individual or not.

 To order a test, and for more information, visit learn.vaulthealth.com/nm/.

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The State Department of Health reminds New Mexicans of the following:

• Please be patient after receiving your COVID-19 test. As cases rise, so do testing demands. After receiving your COVID-19 test, monitor yourself for symptoms. If you are having symptoms or if you tested because of an exposure, assume that you are infectious and self-isolate even if your symptoms resolve. You can spread the virus without knowing you are positive and without having symptoms.
• If you test positive for COVID-19, even if you are asymptomatic do not leave your home to do errands, work, or to see friends. If infected with COVID-19, you must not leave your home unless you are seeking out emergency medical care. Find more information regarging testing positive at https://cv.nmhealth.org/how-to-isolate-when-positive/
• Finally, if you need emergency medical care, call 9-1-1, not the Department of Health information hotline.

 

Remember that every New Mexican must work together to stem the spread of COVID-19. 

• Stay home, especially if you are sick. 
• Wear a mask or face covering when in public and around others. 

These are all true even if you have recovered from the virus or have been vaccinated.