Governor Says More Testing Needed To Open Economy – Associated Press
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham says an economic recovery plan for the state is under development, but it is unclear whether the plan will incorporate the White House's phased approach to reopening the economy.
Lujan Grisham took part in a call Monday between U.S. governors and Vice President Michael Pence regarding efforts to expand coronavirus testing capacity.
Lujan Grisham spokesman Tripp Stelnicki said she wanted but did not get a chance to ask Pence for more information about the future of antibody testing, which New Mexico has not yet implemented.
State health officials announced the number of positive tests for COVID-19 rose by 126 to 1,971 on Monday. There were three additional deaths as well bringing the total number to 58.
New Mexico relies on coronavirus tests that use nose or throat swabs to look for the virus, though its health officials are eager to explore potential benefits of antibody tests that look in the blood for evidence someone had the virus and recovered.
Lujan Grisham said last week that social distancing measures cannot be relaxed without broader testing, expanded contract tracing to try and pinpoint and isolate sources of infection, and new treatment or therapy options. Public health officials have said it could take a year to 18 months to fully validate potential vaccines.
New Mexico largely has stayed on the sidelines of open conflict with the White House as President Trump on Saturday urged supporters to "LIBERATE" three states led by Democrats, apparently encouraging protests against stay-at-home mandates aimed at stopping the coronavirus. Trump called out Michigan, Virginia and Minnesota.
Next to New Mexico, Republican-led Texas has taken its first steps toward easing restrictions by restoring elective surgeries and opening state parks.
New Mexico OKs 19K New Jobless Claims, Count Now Up To 74K – Associated Press
New Mexico's top workforce official says 19,000 unemployment applications were processed over the weekend as the state starts distributing the $600 federally subsidized boost to weekly benefits.
Workforce Solutions Secretary Bill McCamley said Monday that 74,000 people have been approved for unemployment benefits.
That figure does not include claims filed by residents who file taxes as self-employed or as gig economy workers because officials have not yet started processing those claims. State officials have estimated that there are about 62,000 workers in New Mexico who fit into those work categories.
The maximum weekly unemployment payout in New Mexico is $461, and the federal boost increases that to $1,061 weekly.
Health officials confirmed at least 58 virus-related deaths and more than 1,900 infections Monday.
Nearly 40 APD Officers Quarantined After COVID-19 Exposure - Associated Press, KOB-TV
Authorities say 39 Albuquerque police officers have been placed on quarantine after being exposed to a law enforcement officer who recently tested positive for the coronavirus.
Police say two civilian workers with the department were also exposed.
Department officials didn't immediately disclose which agency the positive officer works for.
The officers who may have been exposed to the virus were tested. Police spokesperson Gilbert Gallegos told KOB-TV that officials are still waiting for the test results.
New Mexico Now Has 1,845 Covid-19 Cases And 55 Known Deaths - Santa Fe New Mexican, Associated Press, KUNM News
The state Department of Health announced Sunday that New Mexico now has 1,845 coronavirus cases – up 47 from Saturday – and two more deaths to push that total to at least 55.
The most recent deaths due to the coronavirus include a Bernalillo County resident in their 30’s and a San Juan County resident in their 80’s. Both reportedly had underlying health conditions.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reports state officials said due to a “technical lapse” Sunday’s coronavirus case numbers were not complete. According to a news release, the unreported cases will be included in Monday's announcement.
The Department of Health reports that 103 people are currently hospitalized with COVID-19 and 487 others have reportedly recovered from the illness.
Gallup High School Gym To Reopen As Coronavirus Hospital - Gallup Independent, Associated Press
A federal agency says a high school in Gallup will reopen its gym as a 60-bed alternative care facility to help hospitals treat an increasing number of coronavirus patients.
The Gallup Independent reports that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers expects to turn over the keys to Miyamura High School to local and state health officials on Monday, about two weeks after construction began.
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham first announced that the high school was selected as the site for an auxiliary hospital on April 3.
The first patients with COVID-19 may be admitted as early as April 25.
Feds Tell New Mexico To Stop Diverting Federal School Aid - Santa Fe New Mexican, Associated Press
The New Mexico Public Education Department has been told to stop diverting millions of dollars in federal Impact Aid grants designated for specific school districts.
The decades-old program provides funding for districts nationwide to offset property tax losses from tribal lands, military bases, national forests and other tax-exempt federal lands within their boundaries.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reports the state essentially has redistributed much of that aid — over $63 million in 2019 – and U.S. Department of Education has determined New Mexico wasn't meeting an equity measurement required to redistribute federal aid.
Under federal law, the difference in per-student spending between the public district or charter school with the highest rate in the state and the one with the lowest must not exceed 25 percent.
Impact Aid Program Director Marilyn Hall said fiscal year 2018 numbers show the Carlsbad Unified School District's per-student spending was $7,438 while the Socorro Independent School District's rate was $5,731 — a difference of nearly 30%.
Districts need the federal Impact Aid money to build and maintain facilities because they can't raise enough construction funds through property taxes.
Navajo Nation Council To Hold Spring Session As Scheduled - Associated Press
Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez and Vice President Myron Lizer have vetoed a resolution that sought to cancel the tribal council's session less than three days before the scheduled start.
The Navajo Nation Council is required to hold four regular sessions each year in the months of January, April, July and October.
The spring session is scheduled to begin Monday morning.
Although the resolution passed by the council cites concerns over the possible spread of coronavirus among Navajo Nation employees and officials, Nez and Lizer said the Council and its committees have continued to hold regular and special meetings throughout the pandemic.
Navajo Nation Orders Protective Masks Worn On Reservation - Associated Press
The Navajo Nation says the average age of the more than 40 people who have died from coronavirus on the reservation is 66.
The tribe has ordered all people on its vast reservation to wear protective masks when out in public to help fight the spread.
As of Saturday, 1,197 residents of the reservation that extends into Arizona, New Mexico and Utah have tested positive for COVID-19.
The Navajo Nation has been hit harder by the coronavirus than any other Native American tribe. Tribal President Jonathan Nez says officials would consider even more aggressive requirements to reduce the spread.
US Grants Navajo Nation Authority To Use Unassigned Airwaves - Associated Press
The federal government is giving the Navajo Nation temporary authority to use unassigned airwaves to provide wireless broadband service.
The Federal Communications Commission on Friday granted the requested authority for 60 days to help the tribe's emergency response to the coronavirus outbreak.
The commission says the authority should help the tribe as reservation residents work from home and increasingly rely on telemedicine and remote learning.
Many residents in remote areas without broadband service sit in vehicles parked near local government centers, fast-food restaurants and grocery stores to connect to Wi-Fi.
They say with proper protective equipment for staff and the use of teleconferencing, the session can proceed as scheduled.
Luján Keeps Money Edge In Open Us Senate Race In New Mexico - By Russell Contreras Associated Press
Democratic U.S. Senate hopeful and U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján continues to hold a comfortable fundraising edge over his GOP opponents in a race for an open Senate seat in New Mexico.
Federal election records show the Santa Fe Democrat raised more than $1 million in contributions during the first three months of 2020. That's more than all of his potential Republican opponents combined.
Records also show that Luján had a healthy $2.5 million cash-on-hand going into April.
Meanwhile, former television weatherman Mark Ronchetti led the money race among Republicans during the same period, records show. His campaign reported around $650,000 in contributions.
Elba And Wife, Recovering From Coronavirus, To Help Others - By Louise Dixon Associated Press
Idris Elba says he and his wife had their lives "turned around" after contracting the coronavirus.
The British actor called the experience "definitely scary and unsettling and nervous."
Elba and wife Sabrina Dhowre Elba are recovering in New Mexico where the the actor was filming when he became sick, but plan to return to London as soon as they can get a flight.
Elba said he had to miss his 6-year-old son's birthday because of the lockdown but he's "hoping to see him as soon as I can."
The couple are now focused on their new roles as United Nations Goodwill Ambassadors. They are working with the United Nations International Fund for Agricultural Development to lessen the impact of COVID-19 on farmers and food producers in rural areas.