Features

Los Alamos Among 24 Counties In New Mexico Now Eligible For Expanded Nursing Home Visitation Options

by

ALTSD News:

SANTA FE — In August 2020, state officials, under the leadership of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, announced new guidelines for long-term care facilities to expand COVID-safe visitation options for residents and loved ones.

Monday, the state announced facilities in Los Alamos and 23 other counties in New Mexico are eligible, based on COVID-positivity rates in their region.

Expanded visitation options include masked open-window visits and masked “chatterbox” visits for residents and their loved ones to ensure the safety of residents and facility staff workers. 

Long-term Read More

SFNF Offices Close For Columbus Day Holiday Monday, Oct. 12; Fire Danger Remains High

by

SFNF News:

SANTA FE — All Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) offices will be closed Monday, Oct. 12, in observance of Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples’ Day.

Regular virtual business hours will resume Tuesday, Oct. 13.

As fall colors reach their peak, SFNF officials anticipate a large number of visitors over the holiday weekend.

If you plan to spend time on the forest, please recreate responsibly and follow state public health orders and Centers for Disease Control guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Although there are no fire restrictions on the SFNF, fire danger is unseasonably high Read More

Kari Lier Of Los Alamos Donates Hair To Wigs For Kids

by

Hair Stylist Carla Jaramillo of Netties Hair Design on DP Road displays Kari Lier’s hair she cut Monday to donate to Wigs for Kids. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com

It’s all smiles for Kari Lier after having stylist Carla Jaramillo cut her hair Monday, which she is donating to Wigs for Kids. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com

By CAROL A. CLARK
Los Alamos Daily Post
caclark@ladailypost.com

For two decades Kari Lier has been growing her hair out to have it cut every 2-3 years to donate to be made into wigs for people battling cancer.

Lier was born and raised in Los Alamos. She is a breast cancer Read More

NMPED COVID-19 Update: 14 Staff Members And 3 Students Test Positive In New Mexico Public Schools In Last 72 Hours

by

NMPED COVID-19 update:

SANTA FE – The Public Education Department today announced 17 new positive cases of COVID-19 in the last 72 hours.

Rapid response has been initiated, and all pertinent information has been verified with the schools and school districts.

The following new cases have been reported:

  • Three cases in Bernalillo County. The infected individuals are staff members who were last on school property Sept. 15, Sept. 28 and Oct. 2. All staff members and the parents and guardians of all students in the affected school have been notified of the positive cases.
  • Four cases in Chaves County.
Read More

New Mexico COVID-19 Update: 158 New Cases, Total Now At 30,632 With 2 More Deaths And 17,330 Patients Recovered

by

STATE News:

SANTA FE – New Mexico state health officials have announced this afternoon 158 additional positive tests for COVID-19.

Los Alamos County remains at 35 cases that have tested positive for COVID-19.

Today’s update announces 2 new deaths reported in New Mexico related to COVID-19.

The New Mexico Department of Health reported today the most recent cases:

  • 51 new cases in Bernalillo County
  • 10 new cases in Chaves County
  • 1 new case in Cibola County
  • 12 new cases in Curry County
  • 44 new cases in Doña Ana County
  • 1 new case in Lea County
  • 2 new cases in Lincoln County
  • 4 new cases in Luna County
  • 1 new case
Read More

New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham Quarantining

by

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham

STATE News:

SANTA FE – New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced today that she is temporarily self-quarantined in Santa Fe out of an abundance of caution and in accordance with state Department of Health guidelines after a possible exposure to COVID-19.

A custodial staff member of the governor’s residence reported feeling unwell Thursday afternoon, Oct. 1, and was immediately sent for a COVID-19 test. The staff member – who wore a facemask at all times, as is required for all staff members and workers at the residence – had worked on the personal side of the Read More

Is My School Open? PED Adds Quick Data Access To Website To Get That Information Easily

by

PED News:

SANTA FE — The New Mexico Public Education Department is offering families a quick, easy way to check on the reentry status of any of the state’s public schools amid the uncertainty created by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Is my school in remote learning mode? Are small groups allowed? Have we moved into hybrid mode?

Those questions can be answered at this new data portal on the home page of PED’s website: https://rb.gy/29qat3

The data is organized alphabetically by school district. Every school within a district is listed as “remote,” “small groups,” “hybrid” or “full”.

  • “Remote” means schools
Read More

Life After 50: What Have We Learned So Far?

by

By BERNADETTE LAURITZEN
Executive Director
LARSO

A few days from now, we will have been mired in this pandemic, for seven months. Sometimes, I think time is passing in slow motion and other times, it is flying at warp speed. How much longer could it last, no one knows.

As I reflect on the arrival of winter, what crosses my mind most often is the “twindemic”. What happens if we are dealing with COVID and the flu at the same time?

Have you thought of what could lie ahead? If not, put some thought into it.

Similar to wildfire season you need to prepare. Think about buying an extra item or two, with your groceries Read More

National Institute Of Standards And Technology Innovation Could Improve Detection Of COVID-19 Infections

by

COVID-19 testing. Courtesy/NIST (Shutterstock)

NIST News:

A multidisciplinary research team at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has developed a way to increase the sensitivity of the primary test used to detect the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19.

Applying their findings to computerized test equipment could improve our ability to identify people who are infected but do not exhibit symptoms.

The team’s results, published in the scientific journal Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, describe a mathematical technique for perceiving comparatively Read More

New Mexico HSD Publishes Departmental Performance Scorecard: Using Data To Drive Decision Making

by

HSD Secretary David R. Scrase, M.D.

HSD News:

SANTA FE – The New Mexico Human Services Department (HSD) announced today the online publication of its Department Performance Scorecard – designed to demonstrate transparency and show the public its priorities and performance as it strives to achieve its mission:

To transform lives. Working with our partners, we design and deliver innovative, high quality health and human services that improve the security and promote independence for New Mexicans in their communities.

The department’s $7.5 billion budget state and federal combined for Read More