Coronavirus Update – March 16, 2020

Coronavirus updates for Grant County for March 16, 2020. Our guest today is Silver City Mayor Ken Ladner. We’ll be talking about Silver City’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak and efforts to “flatten the curve”.

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 co**************************@gm***.com

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

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 – March 16, 2020

As  March 16 @ 12 noon

There are 17 presumptive positive cases of coronavirus disease in New Mexico according to the NM Dept. of Health. Grant County currently does not have any positive cases of coronavirus. (cv.nmhealth.org)

Department of Health Secretary Kathy Kunkel amended the state’s emergency order on Sunday – Access to restaurants, bars, breweries and other eating establishments will be limited to 50 percent of maximum occupancy.

Also on Sunday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or CDC issued a recommendation that that “for the next 8 weeks, organizers cancel or postpone in-person events that consist of 50 people or more throughout the U.S.”

Silver City Walmart announced new hours. They will be open from 6 am to 11 pm

Here are the basics on the coronavirus from the CDC (cdc.gov/covid-19)

The coronavirus is a new virus. Doctors and scientists are still learning about it.
There is currently no vaccine to prevent coronavirus disease.

So the best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to the virus.

• The CDC believes that the coronavirus spreads mainly from person-to-person.
  It spreads between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet).
• Through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes
• These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.
• Droplets can also land on frequently-touched surfaces.

So what can we do to protect ourselves and to help slow the spread of the coronavirus?

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
• If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Remember to cover your cough or sneeze.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects like your cell phone, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, and computer keyboards.
• We also need to practice what’s call “social distancing” – which means reducing close contact between people so that we can slow down the spread of coronavirus. This includes self-quarantining if you are vulnerable or when you are sick. We’ll talk more in depth about this with our guests this week.

You’ll find excellent information on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at cdc.gov/covid-19 and on the NM Department of Health website at cv.nmhealth.org