Recap of New Mexico COVID-19 news (5/6/20 edition)

This daily recap of COVID-19 news from New Mexico is available in a free daily email. Sign up here. See all of our COVID-19 coverage here. In a press conference, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham urged New Mexicans to keep social distancing, as COVID-19 continues to spread and the number of cases isn’t trending down in much […]

Recap of New Mexico COVID-19 news (5/6/20 edition)

This daily recap of COVID-19 news from New Mexico is available in a free daily email. Sign up here.

See all of our COVID-19 coverage here.

  • In a press conference, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham urged New Mexicans to keep social distancing, as COVID-19 continues to spread and the number of cases isn’t trending down in much of the state as much as officials had hoped. See the story here.
    • The governor also said that employees at all restaurants and large retailers will be required to wear face coverings; smaller retailers will be required to wear face coverings later this month.
    • As the state faces a likely budget hole from COVID-19 and the response, Lujan Grisham said the idea of tapping the state’s permanent fund “has merit.”
  • McKinley County, which has a large Native American population, reported more COVID-19 cases Tuesday than the county with the largest density: Bernalillo County, Read our story here.
  • The Navajo Nation Health Command Operations Center announced Tuesday 85 new COVID-19 cases and six additional deaths, bringing it to a total of 2,559 confirmed cases and 79 deaths on the Navajo Nation. 
    • Of the total cases, 1,040 are in counties in New Mexico. 
  • Scientists are examining whether a new strain of the coronavirus that is more contagious is now the dominant strain worldwide. The study was led by scientists at Los Alamos National Laboratory, the Los Angeles Times reported.
  • The Farmington Daily Time wrote about life under lockdown in Gallup.
  • The House Minority Leader, Jim Townsend, R-Artesia, sent a letter to the U.S. Attorney General asking the federal government to investigate alleged constitutional violations during the COVID-19 response.
  • Santa Fe County will reduce the number of polling sites for the upcoming primary, the Santa Fe New Mexican reported.
  • Even when things open back up, Farmington businesses are worried about how many customers will show up, the Farmington Daily Times reported.
  • The federal government is finally releasing relief funds for tribal entities through the CARES Act, which became law on March 27. Tribal entities, including some in New Mexico, have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic.
    The Navajo Nation will receive more than $600 million, according to President Donald Trump.
    • The Navajo Times reported the Navajo Nation government was expecting more than $500 million.
    • U.S. Sen. Tom Udall praised the release of 60 percent of the $8 billion, but still said it was “too little, too late.”
      “I am relieved that the Trump administration is finally beginning to get these dollars Congress provided out the door, especially after the White House and Senate Republican leadership tried to leave Tribes out of the CARES Act altogether. But Native communities needed these resources for their health and economic recovery plans weeks ago. The full fund should have been distributed by now.”
  • Udall was also harshly critical of the Trump administration’s testing response. “We allocated $25 billion dollars to the federal government, to the Trump Administration to come up with a national testing strategy, they have not done so. The big failure right now is the governors’ working hard, don’t have a good partner in the federal government,” said Udall.
    Sen. Martin Heinrich was also critical and said, “Indian Country is seeing some of the most devastating and deadly outbreaks of the coronavirus. Tribal governments in New Mexico and across the country are taking on enormous costs to protect the health and safety of their communities. It is outrageous that Tribes are still waiting more than a month after Congress passed the CARES Act for the Trump administration to deliver all of the urgently needed federal funding assistance they need.”
  • In what he said wasn’t attempt to circumvent the state’s social distancing law, the Sierra County Sheriff deputized churchgoers, KOB-TV reported.
  • The state Human Services Department said they will feed 245,000 children through federal approval for the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer Program.
  • The University of New Mexico said they lost $50 million in revenue due to COVID-19, the Daily Lobo reported.
  • The Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority (ABCWUA) is working to halt shut-offs for nonpayment, and said it will not increase rates this year.
    • ABCWUA sent two emergency tankers to Gallup, each carrying 5,000 gallons of water each, at the request of the state emergency management office to assist Navajo communities that are unable to get water due to the lockdown. 
  • Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller said the city’s police department is concerned about the amount of calls being received related to domestic violence and child abuse. The amount of calls is roughly on par with this time last year for domestic violence.
    “The challenge with this is that, because the abuser might be home, there is no safe place for the victim or a witness to call APD,” Keller said. “We are not saying that this actually means domestic violence is flat or that child abuse is flat. We’re very concerned about this, because we expected to see a spike.”Keller emphasized that victims can reach out to advocates, rather than the police, if needed.
    Keller said reports of child abuse have been down “dramatically” compared to last year. 
    “That doesn’t mean our kids are safe,” he said. “Most children don’t report their own abuse, it’s recognized by third parties. If kids are at home, there’s less adults available to see what’s going on.”
    Family Advocacy Center’s Bailey McCullough said the city has seen “a stark decrease in connecting victims with resources after the report.”
    • She urged individuals seeking resources to reach out to the Domestic Violence Resource Center, which has a 24/7-hotline manned by trauma-informed advocates, and can help with physical, emotional or verbal abuse, stalking, and other questions. The services are free and meet social distancing guidelines, and can be used whether or not an individual has reported an incident to police. She also urged anyone who witnesses a domestic violence incident to not hesitate to reach out to police.
      The Family Advocacy Center’s number is 505-924-6000.
      The Domestic Violence Resource Center number is 505-248-3165
      The National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE
  • The City of Las Vegas will mandate face coverings by all people in public acter two new positive COVID-19 tests in the area, the Las Vegas Optic reported

We're ad free

That means that we rely on support from readers like you. Help us keep reporting on the most important New Mexico Stories by donating today.

Related

Emily’s List endorses seven candidates for Legislature

Emily’s List endorses seven candidates for Legislature

Emily’s List, a nonprofit that supports women candidates and reproductive rights, endorsed seven incumbents facing general election opponents in New Mexico legislative elections. All…
Equality New Mexico endorses 15 legislative candidates

Equality New Mexico endorses 15 legislative candidates

A New Mexico-based LGBTQ rights organization endorsed 15 candidates for state House and Senate seats for the 2024 elections.  Marshall Martinez, executive director of…
Lujan Grisham pocket vetoes two bills

Lujan Grisham pocket vetoes two bills

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham pocket vetoed two bills the legislature passed this legislative session: one changing the Cybersecurity Act and the other concerning law…
BLM announces final methane waste rule

BLM announces final methane waste rule

The federal Bureau of Land Management announced its final methane waste rule on Wednesday. These new regulations clamp down on the practice of venting…
What consumers, farmers should know about the flu impacting dairy cows

What consumers, farmers should know about the flu impacting dairy cows

Migrating birds appear to have caused a virus in dairy cattle that is causing reduced milk production. So far, the disease, which initially started…
Republicans seek to limit national monument designations

Republicans seek to limit national monument designations

Republican-backed legislation in the U.S. Congress would make it harder for the government to designate new national monuments. The proposed Congressional Oversight of the…
Amid new graduation requirements, what do high schoolers want to learn?

Amid new graduation requirements, what do high schoolers want to learn?

By Margaret O’Hara, The Santa Fe New Mexican The main things that bring Brayan Chavez to school every day: Seeing, talking to and engaging with…
Special ed teachers hope lawmakers OK pay raises, admin changes

Special ed teachers hope lawmakers OK pay raises, admin changes

By Margaret O’Hara, The Santa Fe New Mexican Brittany Behenna Griffith has a laundry list of adjectives to describe the ideal special education teacher:…
Lawmakers must find consensus on competing education spending plans

Lawmakers must find consensus on competing education spending plans

By Margaret O’Hara, The Santa Fe New Mexican A challenging task awaits New Mexico lawmakers in the next 30 days: Reconciling three very different…
Health workers fear it’s profits before protection as CDC revisits airborne transmission

Health workers fear it’s profits before protection as CDC revisits airborne transmission

Amy Maxmen, KFF Health News Four years after hospitals in New York City overflowed with covid-19 patients, emergency physician Sonya Stokes remains shaken by…
Lujan Grisham, Biden admin announce $10 million in federal funds for tribes, pueblos

Lujan Grisham, Biden admin announce $10 million in federal funds for tribes, pueblos

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced Friday $10 million in funding from the federal American Rescue Plan Act was awarded to six tribal nations and…
Proposal to curb executive powers moves to House Judiciary

Proposal to curb executive powers moves to House Judiciary

The House Government, Elections and Indian Affairs Committee discussed a potential constitutional amendment that seeks to limit the governor’s executive powers. The committee approved…
Senators introduce legislation to aid abortion providers

Senators introduce legislation to aid abortion providers

Sen. Martin Heinrih and other Senate colleagues introduced abortion rights legislation into the U.S. Senate on Thursday. The Abortion Care Capacity Enhancement and Support…
U.S. Supreme Court hears case to restrict access to medication abortion

U.S. Supreme Court hears case to restrict access to medication abortion

The U.S. Supreme Court heard the case about the regulations around mifepristone, one of a two-step regime for abortion medication, on Tuesday. FDA v.…
At stake in mifepristone case: Abortion, FDA’s authority, and return to 1873 obscenity law

At stake in mifepristone case: Abortion, FDA’s authority, and return to 1873 obscenity law

Lawyers from the conservative Christian group that won the case to overturn Roe v. Wade are returning to the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday in pursuit…
Senators introduce legislation to aid abortion providers

Senators introduce legislation to aid abortion providers

Sen. Martin Heinrih and other Senate colleagues introduced abortion rights legislation into the U.S. Senate on Thursday. The Abortion Care Capacity Enhancement and Support…
New Mexico Medicaid to cover cost of over-the-counter oral contraception

New Mexico Medicaid to cover cost of over-the-counter oral contraception

New Mexico Medicaid announced on Wednesday that it will cover the cost of Opill, the first oral contraception approved for over-the-counter use. It is…
U.S. Supreme Court hears case to restrict access to medication abortion

U.S. Supreme Court hears case to restrict access to medication abortion

The U.S. Supreme Court heard the case about the regulations around mifepristone, one of a two-step regime for abortion medication, on Tuesday. FDA v.…
San Juan County, Navajo Nation settle redistricting case

San Juan County, Navajo Nation settle redistricting case

The Navajo Nation and San Juan County reached an agreement Monday about commission districts after the tribe alleged that its members were not adequately…
MIT ranks NM elections most well-run in the U.S.

MIT ranks NM elections most well-run in the U.S.

New Mexico’s 2022 election was ranked most well-run in the country by Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Election Data and Science Lab’s Elections Performance Index.…
Emily’s List endorses seven candidates for Legislature

Emily’s List endorses seven candidates for Legislature

Emily’s List, a nonprofit that supports women candidates and reproductive rights, endorsed seven incumbents facing general election opponents in New Mexico legislative elections. All…
Ex-GOP candidate allegedly hired people to kill witnesses in shootings of homes of Democratix politicians

Ex-GOP candidate allegedly hired people to kill witnesses in shootings of homes of Democratix politicians

Republican failed state house candidate Solomon Peña is facing more federal charges, this time on a murder-for-hire scheme.  Peña allegedly tried to hire two…
BLM announces final methane waste rule

BLM announces final methane waste rule

The federal Bureau of Land Management announced its final methane waste rule on Wednesday. These new regulations clamp down on the practice of venting…
U.S. Supreme Court hears case to restrict access to medication abortion

U.S. Supreme Court hears case to restrict access to medication abortion

The U.S. Supreme Court heard the case about the regulations around mifepristone, one of a two-step regime for abortion medication, on Tuesday. FDA v.…

GET INVOLVED

© 2023 New Mexico Political Report