COVID-19 by the numbers
Over the weekend, New Mexico's COVID-19 cases reached 1,245. Health officials reported 86 new cases on Saturday and 74 on Sunday, as well as seven new deaths—one on Saturday and six on Sunday. This brings the total state COVID-19 fatalities to 26. As of yesterday, 80 people have been hospitalized, the health department has designated 295 COVID-19 cases as recovered and 30,515 tests have been run for the virus so far.
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham's office also issued several additional messages over the last few days. On Friday, the governor's office and the state Outdoor Recreation Division advised New Mexicans that while they are welcome to be outside soaking up sunshine and getting exercise, they should do so close to home. Outdoor Recreation Division Director Axie Navas says the new rules are intended to protect public health: "The number one message is, we have to think about the health of others…and once we address that, yes, we can go outside, but cautiously. If we stay hyper-local, if we think about staying in our backyard, our neighborhood…staying away from other people, maintaining social distancing, I think we can go outside responsibly." On Saturday, in advance of Easter, the governor's office amended the state's emergency order to ban mass gatherings at houses of worship; previously, houses of worship were exempt.
You can read all of SFR's COVID-19 coverage here. If you've had experiences with testing or the virus, we would like to hear from you.
State of our union
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham appeared on CNN's State of the Union yesterday, speaking with host Jake Tapper on several topics, including New Mexico's partnership with Santa Fe-based satellite data company Descartes Lab to use cell phone data to determine residents' mobility and, thus, their adherence to social distancing measures. In response to Tapper's questions about potential privacy concerns, Lujan Grisham said "some folks got confused that somehow this is state data and state effort." Rather, she said the cell phone data is aggregate data for the entire country and anonymized. "We treat this as a tool," Lujan Grisham said, adding that the state would not do business with any company that broke "already robust federal or state laws." The governor also discussed the state's ongoing efforts to secure Personal Protection Equipment, the threat to vulnerable citizens and her rumored spot on Joe Biden's vice-presidential pick list.
Bill Richardson’s new Navajo fund
Former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson is leading an effort to secure more supplies for the Navajo Nation. Working with the New Mexico Children's Foundation and Molina Healthcare, Richardson's COVID-19 Navajo Families Relief Fund will begin to immediately purchase PPE for delivery and distribution to areas where they are most-needed, according to a news release from the Richardson Center. The former governor, congressman and UN ambassador told the Associated Press he was spurred by his long friendship with the Navajo Nation, whom he credits with his first congressional election. "So many Navajo elders are vulnerable to this virus because they don't have masks, they don't have protective equipment," Richardson said.
Meow Wolf layoffs
ICYMI, on Friday, mega-arts institution Meow Wolf laid off approximately half its staff—201 employees—and furloughed another 56. A company statement says Meow Wolf is "maintaining nearly 200 positions to continue to move the company forward and share our art with the world through exciting and audacious exhibitions in the future" and that laid-off employees will receive "generous financial severance packages," along with "months of support in many ways," including help with filing for unemployment benefits.
Listen up
Episode 40 of "Your New Mexico Government" delves into the shutdown's impacts on local arts and culture with SFR Culture Editor Alex De Vore; Juli Hendren, executive director of Tricklock Company; DJ Speed One (John Chavez); and Albuquerque's Cultural Services Director Shelle Sanchez. "Your New Mexico Government" is a collaborative project between SFR, KUNM and NMPBS.
In Episode 6 of the third season of SFR's "Reported" podcast, Gwyn Kaitis, policy coordinator for the New Mexico Coalition Against Domestic Violence, discusses the increase of domestic violence incidents in the state and across the nation since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Lounge lizard
The kids may be stuck at home but they can still stay connected to the Santa Fe Children's Museum through its current lizard naming contest. Yes, the museum has a new lizard—an Uromastyx, to be precise, and it/he/she needs a name. The winner and family will receive a one-year membership to the museum. This spiny-tailed lizard is found in North Africa, the Middle East, central Asia and India, and likes to bask in the heat. You can learn more and enter here. You can read even more about this lizard in Reptile Magazine.
Sneaker search
While your children ponder a name for the new lizard at the Children's Museum, read C.L. Kieffer's tale of researching a pair of vintage Converse sneakers, part of the collection at Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian, where Kieffer is the collections manager/registrar. Kieffer documents her search for El Palacio Magazine, which lead her to believe the shoes are likely the oldest Native American-decorated Converse sneakers. The journey includes the discovery of Converse's archivist, other Native American-decorated Converse and an entire world of Native American Chucks, complete with gorgeous photos.
Spring snow
According to the National Weather Service, snow showers likely before noon, then rain showers likely. The Word can independently verify it was snowing at 5:30 am. Some thunder is also possible. Otherwise, today will be cloudy with a high near 44 degrees, south wind 10 to 15 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon. Total daytime snow accumulation of less than one inch possible. A 40% chance of more precipitation tonight before midnight. Tomorrow looks sunny with a high near 48 degrees.
Thanks for reading! The Word found this Wall Street Journal deep dive into the back story of the bats responsible for COVID-19 and other viruses deeply fascinating, although you may want to wait until you've had coffee to read about bat feces.
