Coronavirus Update – June 24, 2020

Coronavirus updates for Grant County for Wednesday , June 24, 2020.  Our guest today on Coronavirus Update is Silver City Town Councilor Lynda Aiman-Smith who will be talking with Alicia Edwards about her time during the COVID-19 outbreak as a cancer patient and the importance of mutual aid networks.

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 info@grantcountycoronavirusupdate.org

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

Grant County Coronavirus Update website – grantcountycoronavirusupdate.org

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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 – June 24, 2020

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Updates as of  Wednesday, June 24 at 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 – Wednesday, June 24  – 10,838 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in New Mexico, with 476 deaths,  141 currently  hospitalized individuals, and 4874 recoveries according to the New Mexico Department of Health. 

Since last week Grant County has reported an additional case with 17 cases of COVID-19 total with 15 recovered.

In total,  302,083 COVID-19 tests have been performed in the state, with 2520 having been conducted in Grant County.   

For a full breakdown of COVID-19 cases by county and demographic information, visit the state’s COVID-19 data dashboard at: cvprovider.nmhealth.org/public-dashboard

New Mexicans who report symptoms of COVID-19 infection, such as fever, cough, shortness of breath, chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, and/or loss of taste or smell should call their health care provider or the NMDOH COVID-19 hotline immediately at 1-855-600-3453).

 As a reminder, the state’s extended public health order that took effect on June 1 still requires that face coverings must be worn in public settings, that mass gatherings of more than 5 people are still unsafe and prohibited, and that New Mexicans are still urged to stay home, especially if sick or in a high-risk group. Please remember that it is important that you maintain a minimum 6-foot physical distance from others if you must go out.

More COVID-19 health information is available at cv.nmhealth.org

LOCAL COVID-19 TESTING

A reminder that local testing schedules and procedures for COVID-19 have changed.

Grant County Public Health Office will provide free testing every Monday from 8:00a.m. to 11:00a.m. for Food Industry Workers including: employees who work to provide New Mexican families with food, including workers at restaurants, grocery stores, farmers’ markets, distribution centers and food manufacturing facilities. Testing will also be done for Utility Workers at this time. Appointments are required and must be scheduled by noon the preceding Friday by calling (575) 538-5318 (ext. 4)

Free testing will also be conducted for everyone on Tuesdays from 8:30a.m. to 11:30a.m.  at the Grant County Public Health Office at 2610 N. Silver Street (across the street from the Swimming Pool) Appointments are required and must be scheduled by noon the preceding Friday by calling (575) 538-5318 (ext. 4)

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

Gila Regional Medical Center is conducting testing every Monday and Friday from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at La Montana Plaza at 1260 E 32 nd Street (across the street from Gila Regional Medical Center).  Please call (575) 388-4103 for an appointment to be tested or seen.

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 on weekdays except Thursdays at their Lordsburg clinic at 530 De Moss Street in Lordsburg.Call 1-888-271-3596 for an appointment. Testing is expanded to everyone via a drive -up testing approach.

NM PUBLIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT HAS RELEASED SCHOOL REOPENING PLAN

The New Mexico’s Public Education Department has released the state’s plan on how to safely reopen schools in the fall.

According to a release, the 2020-2021 school year will begin with a hybrid model where the number of students in the building will be limited to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and ensure social distancing practices. Students will also rotate between in-person and online learning. 

Under a hybrid mode l, the number of students in the building at any time is capped by the number that can be accommodated while adhering to at least six feet of social distancing or 50% classroom capacity level. Students not in the building will engage in remote learning.

Face coverings are required at all times except for eating, drinking and exercising.

All staff will be screened on a daily basis which includes temperature checks and a review of potential symptoms. If they have an internal temperature over 100.4°F, they will be sent home to self-isolate.

Students will be screened before entering the building. That may include a temperature check. According to the PED Reentry Guidelines, schools will take temperature checks ideally before students enter the building. Screening procedures may differ depending on the school district.

You can access the guidance at webnew.ped.state.nm.us

Visit the Silver City Daily Press for response from Silver and Cobre Schools to the PED Reopening Guidance.

FOOD PANTRY SCHEDULE 

The Commons will be holding its food pantry for Silver City, Tyrone & Arenas Valley residents TODAY from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. at 501 E. 13th Street in Silver City (Just off Swan Street behind the Knights of Columbus) Visit www.tvcgrantcounty.org for more information.

NATIONAL NEWS

In a report published by Johns Hopkins University today, it has been revealed that new cases of COVID-19 have reached their highest level in two months, bringing the number of cases similar to those during the height of the outbreak. As of Tuesday the US reported 34,700 new cases. The only previous dates with higher numbers are April 9 and April 24, where 36,400 cases were recorded.

Though the original hotspots of New York and New Jersey have seen a decline in new cases, a number of other states set single-day records yesterday, including Arizona, Texas, California, Mississippi and Nevada.

Additionally, south of the border in Mexico, a record of 6,200 new cases were reported, though testing rates have been low. 

But turning back to Arizona..

Where Monday, they had their largest single-day increase of cases at 3,951, bringing the total number of cases for Arizona to 58,179, with 1,384 deaths. This is an increase of nearly 20,000 new cases since last Tuesday, that’s an increase of just over 50%

This comes just 6 weeks after Arizona lifted their stay-at-home orders on May 15, when businesses could reopen and residents of the state could go out to celebrate the memorial day weekend.

Though no new restrictions have been put in place, several Phoenix-area restaurants have taken it upon themselves to shut their doors as the number of cases continues to rise.

Looking east toward Texas…

Where on Tuesday the state reported a new high of more than 5,000 cases in a single day. This comes after eight weeks of reopenings, which as caused Texas Governor Greg Abbott to shift his tone toward the pandemic akin to states taking a more proactive approach.

Yesterday, Governor Abbott announced that local officials in Texas will now have more power to limit public gatherings in anticipation of the 4th of July weekend. The move has given Texan mayors and county judges the power to restrict outdoor gathers of more than 100 people, down from the previous number of 500 people. Passing the decision making down to the local level, Governor Abbot has stated that it is up to cities and countries to choose if face coverings will be mandatory at mass gatherings.

California broke its daily record for new cases of coronavirus with more than 6,000 infections reported on Monday. Yesterday, Los Angeles reported more than 2,000 new daily cases for the fourth time in a week.

L.A. County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer has said that while it is impossible to track the origin of spread in a public setting, it is “highly likely” that the overall increase is related to mass protests that erupted over the death of George Floyd as well as clusters of social gatherings at restaurants and private parties. 

On the east coast, the tri-states of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut will require a mandatory 14 day self-quarantine for travelers from 9 states with specified infection levels. These states are Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Washington, Utah and Texas.

New York City, the former epicenter of the pandemic, is currently showing one of the lowest COVID transmission rates in the country. New data from COVIDactnow.org  show that New York and New Jersey are two out of only three states on track to contain COVID-19 in the US, the third state being Massachusetts. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has said police in New York will be stopping cars with out-of-state plates.

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 info@grantcountycoronavirusupdate.org  or on facebook @ Gila Mimbres Community Radio