Recap of New Mexico COVID-19 news (5/23/20 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. The state now has more than 300 COVID-19-related deaths and over 6,600 confirmed cases. See the details here. Navajo Nation health officials reported 95 additional COVID-19 cases and two additional […]

Recap of New Mexico COVID-19 news (5/23/20 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.

  • The state now has more than 300 COVID-19-related deaths and over 6,600 confirmed cases. See the details here.
  • Navajo Nation health officials reported 95 additional COVID-19 cases and two additional deaths; the Navajo Nation has now found 4,529 COVID-19 cases and recorded 149 COVID-19-related deaths. Health officials say about 1,235 people have recovered.
  • Naturalization ceremonies have been suspended until at least June 3, the day after primaries in New Mexico. Sen. Martin Heinrich told the Las Cruces Sun-News, “I am beginning to worry that they intend to do this through the election — that this is not a COVID issue. This is beginning to feel like an anti-immigration issue.”
  • Zuni Pueblo also has an increase in COVID-19 cases, KOB-TV reported.
  • The Mescalero Apache reported their first two confirmed cases of COVID-19, the Alamogordo Daily News reported.
  • Inmates are worried about the number of cases in facilities, which is totally 149, but many believe the actual number is actually much higher, the Albuquerque Journal reported.
  • Cleaning staff at UNM Hospital say leadership isn’t providing them COVID-specific training or adequate personal protective equipment, KUNM reported.
  • The Albuquerque Journal reported on restaurants’ reluctance about a contact tracing rule.
  • The New Mexico Environment Department suspended the food service permits of two restaurants, the Jalisco Cafe in Silvery City and Anaheim Jacks in Ruidoso, that operated dine-in services in violation of the state’s public health emergency order.
  • The Carlsbad Current Argus reported on a gym in Carlsbad that remained open after receiving a $100 fine.
  • The Santa Fe New Mexican wrote about how hospitals can now resume elective surgeries.
  • State Rep. Rebecca Dow said she believed the state should reopen its portion of Elephant Butte, KOAT-TV reported.
  • While many voters are opting to vote with absentee ballots, KOB-TV looked at the precautions for in-person voting.
  • The state is accepting applications for 200 to 250 positions for contact-tracing, a key part of the state’s efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19. The state seeks applicants with experience in a health-related field or work with communities on social service matters, social work or case management. Those who wish to apply can do so at spo.state.nm.us and the “View Job Opportunities and Apply” link.
  • Workers at the Albuquerque International Sunport are concerned about the lack of plexiglass barriers at ticket counters, KRQE-TV reported.
  • The state Supreme Court announced that district judges can permit in-person family visits among children in state custody if the visits can occur under COVID-19-safe conditions.
  • The Santo Domingo tribal government warned members that there were reports of those who tested positive for COVID-19 spitting on car door handles.
  • Gov. Michlele Lujan Grisham ordered flags flown at half staff this weekend for both the victims of COVID-19 and for military personnel who passed away.
  • The Luna County emergency response team went into action when a Luna County Detention Center employee tested positive for COVID-19 last week, the Deming Headlight 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…
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…
Supreme Court to hear two abortion cases this spring

Supreme Court to hear two abortion cases this spring

Later this month, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on the case against the abortion medication mifepristone. It will hear a second…
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.…
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…
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…
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.…
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…

GET INVOLVED

© 2023 New Mexico Political Report