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While Las Cruces grapples with how to respond to the Coronavirus pandemic, government agencies and businesses are adopting their own strategies and contingencies. The landscape is shifting quickly, and the public is advised to make plans accordingly by checking websites and calling ahead before planning activities or outings.
New Mexicans who report symptoms of COVID-19 infection, such as fever, cough or shortness of breath, should call their health care provider or the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) COVID-19 hotline: 1-855-600-3453.
People without those symptoms do not need to be tested for COVID-19. This is allergy season and allergy symptoms such as sneezing or itchy eyes, nose or throat do not indicate a need for testing. Visit NMDOH’s dedicated COVID-19 webpage at cv.nmhealth.org for updated information. For general health questions about COVID-19, or if you have concerns that you may have been exposed to the coronavirus, call the NMDOH hotline at 1-855-600-3453. The hotline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
For non-health-related questions or concerns, call 833-551-0518 or visit newmexico.gov.
The New Mexico Crisis Line is available for anyone experiencing an emotional or mental health crisis. For resources, visit www.nmcrisisline.com or call 1-855-662-7474. In an emergency, call 911.
Local joint information center established
Public information officers representing several organizations within Doña Ana County has been assembled within a Joint Information Center (JIC) to address ongoing community concerns about COVID-19. Organizations represented within the JIC include: NMDOH; Doña Ana County; the cities of Las Cruces, Anthony, Sunland Park, the Town of Mesilla and the Village of Hatch; U.S. Border Patrol; White Sands Missile Range; New Mexico State University; Las Cruces, Gadsden and Hatch school districts; Southern New Mexico Correctional Facility; and MountainView Regional Medical Center and Memorial Medical Center. The group will conference on a regular basis to address the most current information and directives at the state level and to assess how they will affect Doña Ana County residents. Information as it relates to the public will be disseminated through traditional media channels. Visit www.las-cruces.org for current information on the local response to the COVID-19 crisis.
City Parks and Rec Department modifies hours
Effective Monday, March 16, the City of Las Cruces Parks and Recreation Department has
For more information, call the Parks and Recreation Department at 575-541-2550.
School-based health centers continuing services
State limits public gatherings
Beginning March 16, the state amended an earlier public health emergency order directing all restaurants, bars, breweries, eateries and other food establishments to operate at no greater than 50 percent of maximum occupancy and no greater than 50 percent of seating capacity. In addition, tables and booths may not seat more than six people, and all occupied tables and booths must be separated by at least six feet. Patrons may not be seated at bars and standing patrons will not be served. While these venues may remain open and serve customers, they are precluded from holding concerts, DJ’d events, conferences and other similar happenings until the order is lifted.
The order defines mass gatherings as events that bring together 100 or more people in a single room or connected space like auditoriums, stadiums, arenas, conference centers and theaters. The order prohibits gatherings of 100 or more but includes specific exemptions for shelters, retail or grocery stores, courthouses, correction and detention facilities and hospitals, among others.
The amended order also clarifies that all casinos and horse racing facilities must close until April 10.
School meals will continue to be served
The New Mexico Human Services Department has set up website, www.newmexico.gov/education, to provide New Mexico families information about how to access meal sites for children while classes are canceled starting Monday.
The website’s navigation bar includes a tab “Information About Education,” which is where users will find a list of sites that will provide breakfast and lunch to students between March 16 and April 6.
Schools and the state’s USDA-approved meal sponsors are employing a number of strategies to continue feeding children. Many school cafeterias will remain open and workers will prepare meals that parents or students can grab and go at specified times. Other districts are arranging delivery by school bus or the National Guard to students in remote areas.
Las Cruces Public Schools is working with community resources to continue meal service and mental health resources and employees will be paid as if there were no shutdown. Students and staff were also reassured that the state requirements for instructional hours will be waived, so classroom days missed because of the shutdown will not have to be made up later.
From March 16-April 6, LCPS will provide grab-and-go breakfast and lunch to all students at the following locations: Picacho Middle School, 1040 N. Motel Blvd.; Meerscheidt Recreation Center, 1600 E. Hadley Ave.; Frank O’Brien Papen Center, 304 Bell Ave.; East Mesa Recreation Center, 5589 Porter Drive;
Metro Verde Splash Pad/Park, 7125 Metro Park Drive; Doña Ana Community Resource Center, 5745 Ledesma Drive; Desert Hills Elementary School, 280 Roadrunner Pkwy.
Breakfast can be picked up 8-9 a.m. and lunch can be picked up noon-1 p.m.
Roadrunner Food Bank will continue its regular services at each of its distribution centers: March 18: Mesa Middle School, 7225 N. Jornada Road; March 27: Alameda Elementary School, 1325 N. Alameda Ave.; March 30: Columbia Elementary School, 1950 Sonoma Ranch Blvd.; April 1: Lynn Middle School, 950 S. Walnut Drive.
Other school information
Kindergarten registration, originally scheduled for Thursday, April 2, will be rescheduled. The LCPS Teacher Job Fair scheduled for April 3 has been rescheduled to 9 a.m.-4p.m. Tuesday, April 14 at the LCPS administration building, 505 S. Main St.
Additional links that families might find helpful can be found at www.lcps.net.
Temporary changes made in state early childhood policies
The state Children, Youth, and Families Department (CYFD) and the Early Childhood Education and Care Department (ECECD) have made a series of temporary changes to New Mexico’s early childhood policies.
State sites closed temporarily
All state museums, state historic sites, state parks and cultural institutions and state visitors centers are temporarily closed.
In government offices that provide direct service to the public, like the state Motor Vehicle Division, there will be limited staff and a possible move to an alternative or remote model of service. All other state government buildings and leased state offices are closed to the public. This directive affects only employees of state government’s executive branch and excludes those deemed essential to public health and safety and to protecting vulnerable populations. This includes state police, corrections officers, the National Guard, and public health workers, for example. It does not include the courts.
Nursing home visits limited
NMDOH has ordered nursing homes to limit visitation to people whose loved ones are receiving end-of-life care. The order also targets facilities providing assisted living, adult day care, hospice and rehabilitation for older adult patients. NMDOH is advising facilities to require those limited visitors to adhere to a number of precautionary measures, including having their temperatures taken and washing their hands.
To help families stay connected to their loved ones, the state Aging and Long-Term Services Department has nine cameras and by March 16 will have 350 tablets that families can use for electronic visits. The agency is exploring other ways to keep residents in touch with loved ones.
For more information, call the state long-term care ombudsman at 1-866-451-2901.
AARP closures
The Las Cruces AARP chapter has cancelled its monthly general meeting, driving safety classes, the free movie on April 8 and the tax aide program at the Community Action Agency of Southern New Mexico office. Senior Amigos is closed until further notice.
Assistance to small businesses
The New Mexico Economic Development Department (NMEDD) has asked for assistance in identifying businesses in Doña Ana County that have been adversely affected by COVID-19 so that the U.S. Small Business Administration can provide economic injury disaster loans of up to $2 million. These loans can be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills. The interest rate is 3.75 percent for small businesses without credit available elsewhere; businesses with credit available elsewhere are not eligible. The interest rate for nonprofits is 2.75 percent. The SBA offers loans with long-term repayments in order to keep payments affordable, up to a maximum of 30 years.
“There will be a separate process to apply for the funds once the SBA has granted the opportunity to New Mexico, but we need to demonstrate interest for that to happen,” said Mesilla Valley Economic Development Alliance (MVEDA) Vice President for Business Development Eric Montgomery.
Any interested business should completed the linked form (Economic Injury Worksheet - 051410) at www.mveda.com/docs/Economic-Injury-Worksheet-051410.pdf and email it to Daniel Schlegal, small business and entrepreneurship advisor to the governor’s office, at daniel.schlegal@state.nm.us. Phone: 505-690-8073, and copy it to Montgomery at eric@mveda.com.
NMEDD also provides resources through a webinar held jointly with the state Department of Workforce Solutions and NMDOH. This hour-long webinar is available at: https://youtu.be/cDT_1q7gYHA.
NMEDD has also assembled information on available state and federal programs, available at https://gonm.biz/uploads/documents/StateFederalRes.pdf.
Internet service
Comcast Cable is offering any new Internet Essentials customer two months of complimentary internet service, effective immediately. After the second month, customers can cancel their service or remain in the program at $9.95 a month.
The Internet Essentials program is available to all qualified low-income households in Comcast's service area. In addition to the monthly service, it offers a subsidized computer for under $150 and access to digital skills training materials online, in print and in-person.
To sign up, go to www.internetessentials.com. Call 1-855-846-8376 for English and 1-855-765-6995 for Spanish.
Emergency food program
Casa de Peregrinos emergency food program remains open in the Mesilla Valley Community of Hope campus, 999 W. Amador Ave. Food assistance hours are 9-11 a.m. and 1-3 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Contact Casa de Peregrinos at 575-523-5542 and cdplascruces@gmail.com. Visit www.casadeperegrinos.org. You can also donate online to support the program.
Restaurants and stores
Some local restaurants have temporarily closed during the crisis, but many remain open, including some with limited service capacity. Some are offering takeout and delivery options. Call your favorite restaurant and/or food-delivery service for more information.
The same applies to local grocery stores and other food and supply sources – call to make sure they are open and when.