Recap of New Mexico COVID-19 news (10/16/20 edition)

This morning recap of COVID-19 news from New Mexico is available in a free email every weekday. Sign up here. See all of our COVID-19 coverage here. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham encouraged New Mexicans to fight back against the virus “with a vengeance” by adhering to COVID-safe practices. Read more here. Watch her press conference here. […]

Recap of New Mexico COVID-19 news (10/16/20 edition)

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

See all of our COVID-19 coverage here.

  • Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham encouraged New Mexicans to fight back against the virus “with a vengeance” by adhering to COVID-safe practices. Read more here.
  • New Mexico hit another record number of one-day cases of COVID-19 on Thursday: 672. Read more details here, including on the record numbers in Bernalillo County, 146 of which came from the Metro Detention Center.
  • PED reported fifteen new cases of COVID-19 among students or school staff. See the release here
  • See the stories on the press conference from the Albuquerque Journal, Santa Fe New Mexican, Santa Fe Reporter and Las Cruces Sun-News.
    • Rapid responses, or when the state responds to a workplace with a positive COVID-19 test, have surged along with the total surge in cases, KOB-TV reported.
  • The Navajo Nation reported 31 new cases of COVID-19 and no recent deaths.
  • UNM Hospital is bracing for a “fall surge” of COVID-19 patients, KRQE-TV reported.
  • The state of New Mexico confirmed its first case of flu this season, the Department of Health said in a press release on Thursday. The case was a teenager in southeastern New Mexico.
  • A U.S. district court judge ruled that the state can keep students at remote learning in New Mexico, the Associated Press reported. It’s the latest in a line of legal victories in both state and federal courts upholding the governor’s authority when it comes to protecting against COVID-19. 
  • KOAT-TV reported that COVID-19 vaccine trials taking place on the Navajo Nation have looked good according to preliminary data.
  • Weddings are still happening this weekend despite the pandemic restrictions on mass gatherings, KRQE-TV reported.
  • The Navajo Times had more details on the direct payments to eligible Navajo adults from CARES Act funding.
    • The Navajo Nation allocated $10 million for cleanup of government offices, but it’s behind schedule, the Navajo Times reported.
  • Four counties in West Texas have fewer than five cases of COVID-19, the Carlsbad Current-Argus reported. They are all sparsely populated, rural counties.
  • El Paso County, meanwhile, reported an all-time high number of COVID-19 and implemented new restrictions, the El Paso Times reported. The county had more cases than the entire state of New Mexico, and has a little more than third of the population of New Mexico.
  • In Roswell, a Blake’s Lotaburger opened late last week. And then it had to shut down the next day because an employee tested positive for COVID-19, KRQE-TV reported.
  • Cottonwood Mall elated its planned balloon glow until Nov. 7 and 8, KRQE-TV reported.
  • The University of New Mexico football team paused practices because of the spread of COVID-19 in Bernalillo County and after eight players and an assistant coach tested positive for COVID-19, the Albuquerque Journal reported. UNM football is scheduled to face Colorado State in Fort Collins next Saturday.
  • The Video 4, a movie theater in Las Cruces, closed because of the pandemic, the Las Cruces Sun-News 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

Effort to challenge six laws enacted last year comes to an end

Effort to challenge six laws enacted last year comes to an end

Earlier this month, the New Mexico Supreme Court denied and dismissed the effort to challenge six laws enacted in 2023. The New Mexico Supreme…
Governor to call special session for public safety legislation this summer

Governor to call special session for public safety legislation this summer

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced that she will call the Legislature into a special session this summer to address public safety legislation that did…
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…
Ozone pollution continues to plague New Mexico

Ozone pollution continues to plague New Mexico

Four of the nine New Mexico counties evaluated in the annual State of the Air report received failing marks for ozone pollution. The counties…
NM receives $156M to boost access to solar

NM receives $156M to boost access to solar

New Mexico will receive millions in federal money to increase access to solar power. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced recipients of the $7…
Two PFAS chemicals designated hazardous substances under Superfund law

Two PFAS chemicals designated hazardous substances under Superfund law

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released a final rule Friday to designate two types of PFAS chemicals as hazardous substances. Those two chemicals are perfluorooctanoic…
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…
Latest SCOTUS abortion case uncertain and could impact New Mexico

Latest SCOTUS abortion case uncertain and could impact New Mexico

The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments on Wednesday on an abortion-related case, this time over whether an Idaho anti-abortion law preempts a federal…
Abortion fund provider rebrands and holds open house

Abortion fund provider rebrands and holds open house

An abortion fund provider unveiled a rebrand and offered an open house in Las Cruces to celebrate the organization’s new name, mission and values. …
Stansbury introduces judicial ethics bill on U.S. Supreme Court steps

Stansbury introduces judicial ethics bill on U.S. Supreme Court steps

U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury announced a bill on Thursday that would, if enacted, establish judicial ethics to the U.S. Supreme Court. The Judicial Ethics…
Latest SCOTUS abortion case uncertain and could impact New Mexico

Latest SCOTUS abortion case uncertain and could impact New Mexico

The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments on Wednesday on an abortion-related case, this time over whether an Idaho anti-abortion law preempts a federal…
Abortion fund provider rebrands and holds open house

Abortion fund provider rebrands and holds open house

An abortion fund provider unveiled a rebrand and offered an open house in Las Cruces to celebrate the organization’s new name, mission and values. …
Politics and abortion, how much will it matter?

Politics and abortion, how much will it matter?

At the national level, abortion is still a high-stakes issue with both major presidential candidates talking about it in their campaigns, but it may…
Progressives going after incumbents in hot Democratic primaries

Progressives going after incumbents in hot Democratic primaries

By Justin Horwath, NM In Depth It’s a safe bet Democrats will barrel into 2025 with their supremacy intact at the New Mexico Legislature.…
Effort to challenge six laws enacted last year comes to an end

Effort to challenge six laws enacted last year comes to an end

Earlier this month, the New Mexico Supreme Court denied and dismissed the effort to challenge six laws enacted in 2023. The New Mexico Supreme…
Vasquez calls out Republicans for ‘inaction’ on border policy

Vasquez calls out Republicans for ‘inaction’ on border policy

U.S. Rep. Gabriel “Gabe” Vasquez, a Democrat who represents the state’s 2nd Congressional District along the U.S.-Mexico border, cosponsored a resolution on Monday calling…
Latest SCOTUS abortion case uncertain and could impact New Mexico

Latest SCOTUS abortion case uncertain and could impact New Mexico

The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments on Wednesday on an abortion-related case, this time over whether an Idaho anti-abortion law preempts a federal…
Ozone pollution continues to plague New Mexico

Ozone pollution continues to plague New Mexico

Four of the nine New Mexico counties evaluated in the annual State of the Air report received failing marks for ozone pollution. The counties…
Progressives going after incumbents in hot Democratic primaries

Progressives going after incumbents in hot Democratic primaries

By Justin Horwath, NM In Depth It’s a safe bet Democrats will barrel into 2025 with their supremacy intact at the New Mexico Legislature.…

GET INVOLVED

© 2023 New Mexico Political Report