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THURS: Governor Warns Of Penalties As COVID-19 Cases Rise Near 1,000, + More

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Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham streaming April 9, 2020 press conference

Governor Warns More People Need To Stay Home As COVID Cases Rise - KUNM

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham began a press conference Thursday wearing a mask and warned that people and businesses could face citations and penalties if they violate public health orders to stay at home.

The governor said the number of positive COVID-19 cases rose to 989, with 73 people who are hospitalized and 22 on ventilators. An additional death brought the total number to 17. 

Lujan Grisham ordered more businesses closed this week deemed non-essential, including in-person car dealerships, liquor stores and payday lenders. She said the New Mexico State Police have issued 15 cease and desist orders so far to businesses that violated those orders.

The governor also warned that individuals who violate orders to limit gatherings to five people and limit travel could face misdemeanors.

Lujan Grisham held up a photo of her mother to drive home the point that people who violate orders to stay at home except for essential trips are endangering the lives of others.

Human Services Secretary Dr. David Scrase said the state could still be 1,232 intensive care unit beds short in a coming surge of patients, but that number has gone down since last week and he credited social distancing. 

The state is also improving the time it takes the number of cases to double. That is now up to 4.12 days.

New Mexico Gets 3rd Surge In A Row On Unemployment Claims - By Russell Contreras, Associated Press

Federal numbers show that nearly 73,000 people in New Mexico have lost their jobs over that last three weeks.

The U.S. Department of Labor said Thursday 26,606 people in the state applied for unemployment benefits last week compared to a revised record of 27,849 the week before.

The ongoing swell in applications in one of the poorest U.S. states represent more evidence that the coronavirus pandemic continues to ravage the economy.

The Labor Department said 6.6 million Americans overall applied for unemployment benefits last week.

More than one in 10 workers in the U.S. have lost their jobs over just the past three weeks because of the economic fallout from coronavirus outbreak.

The national figures constitute the largest and fastest string of job losses in records dating to 1948. By contrast, during the Great Recession it took 44 weeks— about 10 months — for unemployment claims to go as high as they now have in less than a month.

For Holy Week New Mexico Faithful Find God Beyond Church Walls - By Susan Montoya Bryan, Associated Press

While it pains him, the head of one of the oldest Catholic dioceses in the United States says this Holy Week will be different for tens of thousands of parishioners in New Mexico. It has to be.

There will be no pilgrimages and no crowds packing the pews to celebrate Mass. The Archdiocese of Santa Fe has been pleading with the faithful to heed public health orders and stay home.

Despite the rich traditions that culminate with Easter weekend, Archbishop John Wester says the new coronavirus is nothing to play around with. He says: "It doesn't take a day off for Good Friday or Easter Sunday."

Courthouse In Albuquerque Closes After Employee Tests Positive For COVID-19Albuquerque Journal

A courthouse in downtown Albuquerque closed on Thursday aftern an employee tested positive for the coronavirus.

The Albuquerque Journal reported the 2nd Judicial District Courthouse is slated to reopen on Monday. The employee in question was last in the building on March 27 and began showing symptoms after that.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says there is a 14-day window for potential exposure following contact with a person who is carrying the virus.

2nd Judicial District Chief Judge Stan Whitaker said officials do not believe any other employee in the courthouse contracted the virus, but the courthouse will be closed for a thorough cleaning before re-opening.

GOP Wants Mail-In Ballots By Request Only In New Mexico - By Morgan Lee, Associated Press

Legal battle lines were being drawn Wednesday in a standoff over emergency voting procedures in New Mexico as a state Supreme Court dominated by Democrats weighs alternatives to in-person voting in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

With written arguments due Wednesday, Republicans say mail-in absentee ballots should be distributed only to eligible voters who make a request ahead of the June 2 primary.

The idea is to safeguard voters and elderly poll workers from the risk of infection at polling and early voting sites.

But some voting rights experts say New Mexico runs the risk of disenfranchising residents of extremely remote rural areas without internet access or traditional street addresses.

Convening the Legislature for a deliberative approach also poses health risks and technological challenges.

Across the country, major parties are girding for a state-by-state legal fight over how citizens can safely cast their ballots should the coronavirus outbreak persist through November.

 

Federal Aid Assigned To Rural New Mexico Hospital - Associated Press

Members of New Mexico's congressional and U.S. Senate delegation say rural hospitals that suspended non-urgent procedures as they brace for a surge in coronavirus patients have begun receiving a temporary financial lifeline from the federal government.

Las Cruces-based U.S. Rep Xochitl Torres Small and Sen. Martin Heinrich said in a statement that the Gila Regional Medical Center in Silver City will receive an advance Medicare payment of $6.8 million. 

A variety of rural hospitals and clinics are being starved of ordinary income as they postpone elective surgeries and procedures to open up beds for COVID-19 patients. 

The accelerated Medicare payments to hospitals and clinics are an outcome of the most recent coronavirus aid package and its $100 billion grant program for medical providers to cover lost revenues linked to the pandemic.

New Mexico State Police To Crack Down As Virus Cases Go UpAssociated Press

New Mexico State Police say they will be cracking down on businesses that aren't abiding by the governor's public health orders as new confirmed cases pushed the state's total higher on Wednesday.

State health officials say the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases now tops 865, with nearly five dozen patients hospitalized. The cases include two residents and seven employees at a Farmington nursing home.

Numerous cases also have been reported at an Albuquerque long-term care facility.

On the labor front, the state is offering a one-time stimulus payment for up to 2,000 eligible self-employed New Mexicans affected by the pandemic.

A total of 16 people have died in New Mexico, state health officials said Wednesday.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham earlier this week extended an emergency health order that aims to limit social contact to keep from spreading the virus.

The order also includes restrictions for businesses, and state police are planning to crack down on those businesses that aren't abiding by the rules.

A written warning along with a cease and desist order will come first. On a second violation, the business will receive a citation. Subsequent violations could lead to a civil penalty of up to $5,000.

Navajo President And Vice President In Self-QuarantineKUNM

Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez said on Thursday he and Vice President Myron Lizer are in self-quarantine because of being in close proximity to a first responder who tested positive for COVID-19.

Both men said they are not showing symptoms, but will follow guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on quarantining to prevent the spread of the virus.

Nez said a curfew will take effect from 8 p.m. Friday to 5 p.m. Monday except for essential employees with documentation from employers.

Navajo Police will enforce the curfew and violators could face a $1,000 fine and/or 30 days in jail.

Coronavirus Cases And Deaths Continue To Rise on Navajo Nation – Albuquerque Journal, KUNM News

Coronavirus cases on the Navajo Nation have now reached 488 with at least 20 deaths due to COVID-19 on the country’s largest Native American reservation.  

The Albuquerque Journal reports the Navajo Department of Health, Navajo Area Indian Health Service and the Navajo Epidemiology Center announced the numbers Wednesday, including 62 new cases and three additional confirmed deaths since the day prior.

President Jonathan Nez tells the Journal that he and Vice President Myron Lizer are “hopeful” that a weekend curfew will have a positive impact on slowing the spread.

The tribe’s leadership will hold a town hall Thursday at 10 a.m. to update members on the outbreak.

Census Finds New Mexico Response Rate Near Bottom Among States Associated Press

Federal officials say New Mexico ranks near the bottom when it comes to the number of people who have responded to the 2020 Census.

The latest update shows just over one-third of New Mexican households have replied either online or by phone -- far short of the 46% national response rate. Bernalillo County is slightly ahead of the national rate but other areas are lagging.

About 5% of households in Rio Arriba County have responded.

The 2020 census will guide the distribution of some $1.5 trillion in federal spending and help determine how many congressional seats each state gets.

Starting Wednesday, the U.S. Census Bureau is mailing paper forms to 64 million homes whose residents haven't yet answered the once-a-decade questionnaire.

Due to the coronavirus outbreak, the bureau is adjusting its timeline to give people more time to respond as public health orders and other restrictions are keeping advocacy and civic groups from conducting face-to-face outreach. Officials say that's considered the most effective way of encouraging participation.

New Mexico's Senior US Senator Endorses Joe Biden - Associated Press

New Mexico's senior U.S. senator is throwing his support behind Joe Biden in the race for president. 

Democrat Tom Udall announced his endorsement in a message on social media Wednesday. 

His post followed news that fellow Sen. Bernie Sanders was ending his presidential bid, leaving Biden as the presumptive Democratic nominee to challenge President Donald Trump in the general election. 

The New Mexico Democrat said he believes Biden can provide steadfast leadership for New Mexico's working families and the rest of the nation.

A second-term senator and former congressman, Udall announced a year ago that he would not seek re-election. This year, he will be bringing to a close a 20-year political career on Capitol Hill. He was first was elected to Congress in 1998.

Trump Quietly Shuts Down Asylum At Us Borders To Fight Virus - By Maria Verza, Elliot Spagat And Astrid Galvan Associated Press

The Trump administration has quietly shut down the nation's asylum system for the first time in decades amid the coronavirus. 

The U.S. has used an obscure public health law to justify one of its most aggressive border enforcement tactics ever. 

People seeking refuge in the U.S. are whisked to the nearest border crossing and returned to Mexico without a chance to seek asylum. 

The government has temporarily swept aside decades-old national and international laws, saying holding people in custody is considered too dangerous. 

A congressional aide tells The Associated Press that the U.S. has expelled more than 7,000 people in less than two weeks.

Wire Theft Puts Albuquerque Street Lights Out Of Commission - Associated Press

Officials in New Mexico's largest city are warning that copper wiring thefts have put some street lights out of commission, resulting in dangerous conditions for pedestrians and drivers. 

In an effort to discourage would-be thieves, the city of Albuquerque is working with a lighting contractor to reinforce poles and switch out copper wiring for less valuable aluminum. 

Mayor Tim Keller says the copper thefts can create a safety problem as well as burden taxpayers. 

In February alone, the city saw $16,000 in copper theft, which accounted for more than one-quarter of all maintenance of street lights.

In two years, the bill for copper thefts has topped $800,000, according to the city. 

In addition to rewiring the lights, the city is adding stickers to poles with aluminum wiring to notify would-be thieves that they are wasting their time. In some areas, street light access doors are being welded shut.

Cattle Conflicts Prompt Killing Of Endangered Mexican Wolves - By Susan Montoya Bryan, Associated Press

U.S. wildlife managers have drawn the ire of environmentalists for killing four endangered Mexican gray wolves in an effort to get the predators to stop killing cattle in New Mexico.

The latest deaths highlight a conflict that has persisted since reintroduction of the wolves began in the southwestern U.S. two decades ago.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says the action was taken in March after hazing, diversionary food caches and other non-lethal means failed.

Ranchers have seen a record number of cattle kills over the past year, but environmentalists say lethal management of the wolves is undermining the species' recovery.