For this week’s interview, GMCR’s Jamie Newton speaks with Chris Jepson, a recently retired nurse and health educator, and her husband, Grant County Commissioner Harry Browne, who are recovering from the coronavirus. Jamie talks to them about their experience with the illness, including diagnosis, the experience of being ill, and recuperation, plus emotional impacts on themselves and their family and friends.
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.
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…
The new state health chief said Tuesday, in a remote press conference, that the arrival of vaccines in New Mexico marks a turning point and she’s hopeful for a brighter day as people get vaccinated over the coming months. Reported by the Associated Press, Health Secretary Tracie Collins said that while vaccination will prevent COVID-19 infection, there is more that needs to be learned about how effective inoculations will be in stemming transmission of the virus. (Source)
“This means that as New Mexicans begin to get vaccinated, we still need to wear masks, maintain 6-foot social distancing, wash our hands often and keep up with other COVID-safe practices,” she said during a briefing on the vaccine rollout.
Over 17,000 doses were given to New Mexico in the first round of vaccine distribution.
The first doses are going to frontline health care workers at medium to high risk of exposure as they work with COVID-19 patients. The next group will include staff and residents at nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. Collins said decisions are pending about which groups of people to vaccinate after that.
As public health mandates remain in place, Collins said the state will balance vaccine distribution with the continued push for COVID-19 testing and options such as at-home testing.
New Mexico has seen its weekly rolling average of new infections decrease, but deaths remain high. The statewide death toll since the pandemic began surpassed 2,000 on Tuesday. More than 20% of those deaths were reported in the past two weeks alone.
As of Wednesday, the state reported 122,557 confirmed cases of COVID-19 cases and 2,006 deaths related to the disease. The share of positive COVID tests stands at 13.5% over the last two weeks, well above the state’s reopening target of 5%.
In Grant County, the Department of Health reported 86 new COVID cases since last week for a total of 655 cases.
In Grant County there are 231 reported COVID cases recovered, leaving 424 active cases in the county as of Tuesday. There have been 8 reported deaths in Grant County. The most recent death – A male in his 80s from Grant County – was announced on December 12th. The individual had been hospitalized and had underlying health conditions.
The New Mexico Department of Health reported that 865 COVID-19 patients were in the hospital Tuesday. Hospitalizations remained high throughout the state, but 9% below the peak of 947 hospitalizations on Dec. 3, according to the ABQ Journal.
“All of our hospitals are well above 100%.” said Dr. Irene Agostini of UNM Hospital. “That’s why I think this red, yellow and green {system} will be very helpful. When we are all back in the green, our hospitals will, I believe, be able to take a breather from what’s going on now.” (Source)
Doctors are reminding people to celebrate the holidays safely this year. Because the virus continues to pose a risk and can be transmitted easily at family gatherings, they are encouraging people to stay home for the holidays and celebrate only with those in your household.
For those in need of financial support, the state of New Mexico is providing economic relief to state residents and small businesses. Deadlines to apply are fast approaching…..
SMALL BUSINESS CARES ACT RELIEF GRANTS AVAILABLE THROUGH DECEMBER18
The grant application for Small Business CARES Relief Grants for New Mexico businesses will close at noon this Friday, December 18. Information on the guidelines, eligibility requirements, required documents, and the application process is available at www.nmfinance.com. Eligible businesses of 100 or fewer employees include for-profit businesses that are at least 51% owned by New Mexico residents, and nonprofit organizations.
HOUSING COST ASSISTANCE THROUGH THE MORTGAGE FINANCE AUTHORITY
The Mortgage Finance Authority’s COVID-19 Housing Cost Assistance Program helps pay the housing costs of income-eligible New Mexico households and residents of tribal lands who are experiencing financial hardship due to the COVID-19 health crisis. Recipients will receive as much as $1,500 per month for up to three months to pay past-due rent or mortgage payments. In addition, payments on real estate contracts, mobile or manufactured home liens and the land or lots on which they are located may also be covered.
Details of all qualifying criteria and application can be found on MFA’s website: housingnm.org. Applicants also may call 505.308.4206 or toll free at 866.488.0498 for more information.
RECEIVE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE UNDER THE NEW PNM COVID CUSTOMER RELIEF PROGRAM
PNM customers needing financial assistance with their electricity bills can apply through the new PNM Covid Customer Relief Program. Eligibility is based on household income.
Qualified customers must pay at least 25% of the past-due balance. Apply no later than December 31, or until funds last, by calling PNM at 855-364-2950 Monday through Friday from 7:30 AM – 6 PM or visit PNM.com.
Assistance is available on a first-come, first-served basis. A full list of eligibility and requirements is available at www.PNMforwardtogether.com/help
LEGAL ASSISTANCE FROM THE NEW MEXICO POVERTY LAW CENTER
Know your rights as a worker during the pandemic. You have rights to paid sick leave and family leave during the Covid 19 crisis. Find information about your rights, programs to help families, and advocacy to ensure that all New Mexicans have access to critical services at New Mexico Poverty Law Center. For Eviction Rights, Worker Rights, and Support Programs go to www.nmpovertylaw.org/covid-19-resources
Area food pantries taking place this week…..
Mimbres Valley Health Action League Mobile Food Pantry
Held the 3rd Wednesday of the month, the next Mimbres Valley Health Action League mobile Food Pantry will be held today – December 16th – from Noon to 2pm at the Roundup Lodge, 94 Acklin Hill Rd. Call 575-574-7674 for more information.
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.
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.
As the holiday giving season is approaching here are a few ways to support local business during this difficult time…
SILVER CITY MAINSTREET CASH MOB
Get all of your holiday shopping done from the safety and comfort of your home by shopping online at Downtown Silver City Cash Mobs. Organized by Silver City MainStreet, the virtual shopping events are held online using Facebook Live. Shoppers watch the event and use the comment section to shop.
The last Cash Mob will be today
Wed. Dec. 16, featuring Light Art Space
Cash Mobs are from 5 pm to 7 pm
The Silver City Daily Press presents the Shop Grant County Giveaway. Shop Local this holiday season for chances to win prizes! Shoppers who submit at least $10 in receipts from four participating businesses will be entered to win items contributed by merchants. To enter and for more details visit shop.insilvercity.com
Please remember, you are never alone, but dealing with stay-at-home orders, political discussions, job loss, or not being able to spend time with the people you love and care about can wear on your emotions. Your feelings are valid. It’s normal to feel sad, anxious, or upset about the future.
Reaching out to professionals who are familiar with how you are feeling can improve your life. In New Mexico, you can talk to trained staff: call 1-855-NMCRISIS (662-7474) 24 hours a day/7 days a week. You can confidentially reach out to talk to someone anytime and anyplace.
If you feel like you want to hurt yourself, you can reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. Call 911 if you are in an EMERGENCY SITUATION. If you feel like you are going to hurt yourself, this 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
THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH HAS REMINDED NEW MEXICANS ABOUT WHO SHOULD GET TESTED FOR COVID-19:
Symptomatic people displaying the COVID-19 symptoms of cough, fever, shortness of breath, chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, and/or loss of taste or smell.
Asymptomatic people who are close contacts or household members of New Mexico residents who have already tested positive for the coronavirus;
Asymptomatic people who live or work in congregate settings such as detention centers and long-term care facilities;
Patients who are scheduled for surgery and whose provider has advised them to get tested before the procedure.
For more information on Covid testing and contact tracing in New Mexico go to www.togethernm.org
Do you need to get tested for COVID? Here is the local COVID testing schedule.
The Grant County Public Health Office provides free testing every Tuesday from 8:00a.m. to 11:00a.m. and every Wednesday afternoon from 2:00 pm – 4:30 pm.
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 1-575-388-1511 for an appointment.
Additional guidance from the state Department of Health:
If you feel sick, do not leave your home. If you feel any symptoms of COVID-19, seek out a COVID-19 test. Testing sites and hours are available at cv.nmhealth.org and togethernm.org.
Please be patient after receiving your COVID-19 test. As cases rise, so does demand for testing. After you receive your COVID-19 test, monitor yourself for symptoms. If you are having symptoms or tested because of an exposure, you should 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 you are infected with COVID-19, you must not leave your home unless you are seeking out emergency medical care.
Finally, if you need emergency medical care, call 9-1-1, not the Department of Health information hotline.
On this episode of Earth Matters, we’re bringing to you one of this year’s Gila River Festival presentations entitled "Community Health: How can we build resilience?" with Dr. Emily Haozous and Dr. Fred Fox. As the COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately hits Indigenous communities and people of color and the calls for racial justice continue, it is no longer possible for society to look past long-standing inequities in our health care, economic, […]
