>> FEDERAL AND STATE OFFICIALS ARE WRAPPING UP EFFORTS TO PREPARE FOR A POSSIBLE OUTBREAK. >> THE GOVERNOR HAS DECLARED THE CORONAVIRUS OF PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY IN NEW MEXICO AFTER THREE CASES WERE CONFIRMED IN THE STATE TODAY. >> I WILL ANNOUNCE A SERIES OF ORDERS. >> I FEEL LIKE THIS IS THE RIGHT CALL. >> SEEING SPIKES IN COVID-19 CASES WITH SOME BREAKING RECORDS INCLUDING NEW MEXICO. >> PEOPLE ARE GENERALLY SCARED. >> I AM AN ADVOCATE FOR SAFETY. >> WE ARE THRILLED WE ARE AT THESE LEVELS RIGHT NOW. >> A LITTLE MORE NORMALCY. >> TO BE ABLE TO DO SOMETHING AND NOT FEEL LIKE YOU ARE JUST STUCK WATCHING IT. >> GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR CORONAVIRUS IMPACT, OUR RECOVERY IN NEW MEXICO. WE ARE AT ONE FULL YEAR OF COVID IN OUR STATE. SHELLY: IT HAS BEEN A YEAR LIKE ANY OF US HAVE EVER SEEN. OUR CHILDREN FIGURING OUT HOW TO LEARN IN ANY WAY AND OUR TEACHERS RELEARNING HOW TO TEACH. >> SO MANY CHALLENGES FOR ALL OF US. WE HAVE TO CHANGE HOW WE DO OUR JOBS. >> BUSINESSES TRYING TO STAY AFLOAT, AND SADLY, THE PANDEMIC HAS TAKEN THE JOBS OF SO MANY NEW MEXICANS. >> THE VIRUS IS IMPACTING JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING WE DO, TOTALLY REDEFINING THINGS LIKE SPORTS. >> TO THE PROFESSIONALS TO YOUR KIDS, LEFT EMPTY FOR MONTHS AND YOUNG ATHLETES MISSING OUT ON BIG OPPORTUNITIES. >> THERE WERE ALSO STORIES OF PERSEVERANCE AND HOPE. INNOVATIONS IN TECHNOLOGY, COMMUNITIES LIFTING UP THEIR NEIGHBORS. >> THIS ONE HOUR SPECIAL EXPLORES NOT JUST TO HOW WE GOT WHERE WE ARE TODAY BUT WHAT IS NEXT FOR NEW MEXICO. IT REFLECTS A YEAR OF STORIES FROM THE ENTIRE NEWS TEAM. DOUG: AFTER THE FIRST COVID CASE WAS ANNOUNCED IN CHINA AND DECEMBER OF 2019, PEOPLE IN COUNTRIES EVERYWHERE WERE CONCERNED. THEN PRESIDENT TRUMP TRIED TO LIMIT INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL INTO THE U.S. AND GOVERNOR GRISHAM TRIED TO DO THE SAME FOR VISITORS IN NEW MEXICO BUT THE VIRUS COULD NOT BE STOPPED. THE FIRST U.S. CASE WAS CONFIRMED IN JANUARY OF LAST YEAR NEAR SEATTLE. TWO MONTHS AFTER THAT, IT HIT HOME. >> WE NOW HAVE FOUR CONFIRMED CASES. DOUG: MARCH 11, 2020. SHELLY: THE GOVERNOR DECLARED A PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGECY. DOUG: THE FIRST DAY, FOUR CA SES. THE NEXT DAY, SIX MORE. THE GOVERNOR DID THE METHOD SHUT DOWN SCHOOLS. FOR THE SAFETY OF KIDS, MOST PARENTS AGREED. WHILE THE GOVERNOR IS DEALING WITH THE COVID CRISIS AT HOME, THERE ARE NEW MEXICAN STUCK ON A CRUISE SHIP AT SEA AND CANNOT DOCK IN A U.S. PORT BECAUSE OF COVID. >> THEY ARE FRUSTRATED, TIRED, EXASPERATED. DOUG: IT WOULD TAKE DAYS FOR CYNTHIA AND MARK RIZZO TO FINALLY GET BACK HOME. IN AN ATTEMPT TO CRACKDOWN ON COVID, THE GOVERNOR LIMITED CAPACITY AT BARS, RESTAURANTS AND OTHER GATHERING PLACES TO JUST 50%. >> WE ARE COMPLYING WITH ALL THE REGULATIONS THAT CAME OUT IN THE LAST DAY. DOUG: THREE DAYS LATER, SHE THE MATED PLACES TO EAT TO OFFER TAKEOUT AND DELIVERY ONLY. MALLS LOCKED UP AND THEATERS WENT DARK, ALL ORDERED TO SHUT DOWN. >> WE RECOGNIZE THAT BUSINESSES, THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO DO SO. DOUG: BY THIS TIME, COVID-19 WAS EXPLODING ACROSS THE COUNTRY, WE WERE OUT TO 112 POSITIVE TESTS. THE GOVERNOR WHEN THEY STEP FORWARD TELLING EVERYONE TO STAY HOME AND CLOSE ALL BUSINESSES EXCEPT FOR ESSENTIAL STORES AND SERVICES, WANTING THEIR EMPLOYEES TO BE ABLE TO LEAVE HOME. JUST 48 HOURS LATER, LUJAN GRISHAM CLOSES THE BOOKS ON IN CLASS LEARNING FOR NEW MEXICO’S KIDS. >> IT IS CLEAR IT IS NOT YET SAFE TO BE ABLE TO BRING OUR STUDENTS BACK INTO SCHOOL AND WE HAVE MORE TO DO. DOUG: BUT THE GOVERNOR HAD MORE TO DO, TRYING TO TACKLE COVID WITH TRAVELERS. ORDERING ANYONE WHO COMES INTO NEW MEXICO TO QUARANTINE FOR TWO WEEKS. BEGINNING IN MARCH OF 2020, WE ALL HAD TO CHANGE THE WAY WE SHOP, EAT, TRAVEL, ENTERTAIN OURSELVES AND HOW OUR KIDS LEARNED. THAT WAS JUST IN THE FIRST 16 DAYS OF THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC WHICH TURNED NEW MEXICO UPSIDE DOWN. IT IS STILL HERE AND ALL OVER THE WORLD. SHELLY: NEW MEXICANS ARE USED TO HEARING RED OR GREEN AND USUALLY WE ARE TALKING ABOUT CHILI. THE STATE INTRODUCED A SYSTEM TO EVALUATE COVID IN EACH COUNTY. STATE LEADERS LOOK AT TWO NUMBERS. THEY WANT FEWER THAN EIGHT CASES PER 100,000 PEOPLE AND A TEST POSITIVE IN RATE LOWER THAN 5%. IF A COUNTY IS HIGHER ON BOTH, THEY ARE IN THE RED, MEANING TIGHT RESTRICTIONS. IF THEY MEET ONE NUMBER, IT IS YELLOW AND RESTRICTIONS LOOSEN A BIT. BELOW BOTH NUMBERS FOR TWO WEEKS, A COUNTY CAN REOPEN MORE. IN FEBRUARY, THIS DATE ADDED TURQUOISE WHICH IS EVEN BETTER THAN GREEN. A COUNTY NEEDS TO BE UNDER BOTH NUMBERS FOR A FULL MONTH. DOUG: THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH USES THESE COLORS TO DETERMINE HOW BUSINESSES CAN REOPEN IN EACH COUNTY. EVEN AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL, TURQUOISE, BUSINESSES STILL CANNOT OPEN COMPLETELY. RESTAURANTS CAN HAVE 75% CAPACITY FOR INDOOR AND OUTDOOR DINING. SOAK IN CLOSE CONTACT BUSINESSES LIKE NAIL SALONS AND BARBERSHOPS. RECREATIONAL FACILITIES CAN OPEN AT 50% AND TURQUOISE IS WHERE BARS CAN FINALLY OPEN INDOORS. THE LEVEL BELOW TURQUOISE IS GREEN. YOU CAN SEE TIGHTER CAPACITY RESTRICTIONS ON RESTAURANTS AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES. THIS IS THE FIRST PHASE WHERE BARS CAN OPEN OUTDOORS. THE NEXT LEVEL IS YELLOW. TO 33% CAPACITY INDOORS BUT ONLY IF THEY ARE REGISTERED AS STATE CERTIFIED. LARGE ENTERTAINMENT VENUES CAN OPEN UNDER YELLOW BUT ONLY OUTDOORS. THE MOST RESTRICTIVE YELLOW IS RED, WHICH ALLOWS FOR ONLY OUTDOOR DINING. SOME BUSINESSES DID NOT SURVIVE THE FINANCIAL IMPACT OF THE RESTRICTIONS. THOSE THAT DID, SOME ARE STRUGGLING. >> RIGHT NOW, RESTRICTIONS OF THE STATE ALLOW FOR RESTAURANTS TO OPERATE IN SOME WAY, WHETHER IT IS EATING OUTSIDE OR A LIMITED NUMBER INSIDE. AFTER THE LOCKDOWN, RESTRICTIONS TIGHTENED AND LOOSENED. RESTAURANT AND BREWERY OWNERS SAID IT MADE IT DIFFICULT HOW TO STAFF THE DAY AND HOW MUCH FOOD TO ORDER TO MAKE MEALS. NOW AS THEY ARE ALLOWED TO SERVE MORE GUESTS, IT IS GIVING THE RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION HOPE. >> WE ARE THRILLED WE ARE AT THESE LEVELS RIGHT NOW. I DON’T THINK ANYBODY WAS REALLY EXPECTING THE VACCINE TO WORK QUITE SO QUICKLY AND SO IT IS VERY ENCOURAGING FOR NOT JUST THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY, BUT FOR NEW MEXICANS AS A WHOLE. RON: THE RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION DOES WORRY ABOUT COUNTIES MOVING BACKWARDS, GOING FROM ONE COLOR TO ANOTHER, AND HOW THAT HURTS THE MOMENTUM OF BUSINESS. BUSINESS OWNERS HAD TO GET CREATIVE TO STAY IN BUSINESS. WE SPOKE WITH A DESIGNER KNOWN FOR HIS JEWELRY. DANNY HART MOSTLY MADE MONEY AT MARKETS LIKE THE GROWERS MARKET AND THE BIG HOLIDAY MARKETS, BUT PUBLIC HEALTH ORDERS MADE THOSE EVENTS NONEXISTENT. BUYING HABITS CHANGED FOR EVERYONE. >> PEOPLE BUY BIG EARRINGS, NECKLACES, ETC. TO WEAR THEM OUT AND ABOUT, TO A BAR, A RESTAURANT, WHATEVER, TO MEET UP WITH FRIENDS AT SOCIAL HOUR. WITH THAT NOT HAPPENING, THE IMPORTANCE FOR PEOPLE TO BUY THAT STUFF DROPPED. RON: MANY LOCAL BUSINESSES HAD TO SWITCH TO ONLINE SALES. BUSINESSES ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS TO KEEP THEM AFLOAT BUT EXPERTS BELIEVE IT WILL TAKE YEARS FOR THE ECONOMY TO BOUNCE BACK. HERE’S HOW SMALL BUSINESS REVENUE IN OUR STATE WAS IMPACTED LAST YEAR. THIS IS AN ODD LOOKING DRAFT BECAUSE ALMOST ALL OF THE CATEGORIES BELOW THIS REDLINE, MEANING THEY ARE IN THE NEGATIVE. LEISURE AND HOSPITALITY ALTHOUGH AT THE BOTTOM INCLUDING RESTAURANTS TOOK THE BIGGEST HIT, DOWN 68%. EDUCATION AND HEALTH SERVICES DOWN 32%. THE RED LINE REPRESENTS RETAIL AND TRANSPORTATION. LOST 25%. THE YELLOW LINE ABOVE ZERO IS PROFESSIONAL BUSINESS SERVICES WHICH GAINED ALMOST 10%. THE OUTLOOK IS GETTING BETTER AND WE CAN TELL BY UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS. BRITTANY HOPE LOOKS AT JOBS. BRITTANY: NEW FILINGS HIT STATE RECORDS OVER THE PAST YEAR. MANY OF YOU NOW HAVE JOBS AFTER BEING LAID OFF OR FURLOUGHED -- THOUSANDS OF NEW MEXICANS ARE STILL STRUGGLING TO PAY THE BILLS. A SCENE WITH SOUNDS FROM A TOTALLY DIFFERENT WORLD. AN UNEXPECTED ENDING CAME FOR ERIC STONEKING WHEN SCHOOLS SHUT DOWN, AND HIS BAND PROGRAMS AND CLASSES IN ALBUQUERQUE. >> I NEVER SAW MYSELF HAVING TO DRAW UNEMPLOYMENT. BRITTANY: HE IS ONE OF THOUSANDS WHO FILED FOR UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THIS PANDEMIC. NEW MEXICO’S UNAPPOINTED RATE WAS MORE THAN 6%. LOOK AT THE ORANGE LINE. BY JULY, THAT SKYROCKETED TO 12.7%, WELL ABOVE THE NATIONAL RATE OF 10.2%. NEW MEXICO’S UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IN 2020 OVERALL WAS 8.4%. THE 11TH HIGHEST AND NATIONWIDE. WHY? >> WE HAVE A VERY HIGH DEPENDENCE ON HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM JOBS IN NEW MEXICO BRITTANY: SECRETARY BILL MCKINLEY SAYS AS SOON THE FIRST PUBLIC HEALTH ORDER WAS RELEASED IN MARCH, UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS FLOODED IN. >> WE INCREASED UNEMPLOYMENT BY 15 TIMES IN THE SPAN OF THREE MONTHS. THE NEW MEXICANS MOST IMPACTED BY CLOSURES AND JOB LOSSES, THE SECRETARY SAYS THOSE WHO ARE YOUNGER, WORK LOW-WAGE JOBS, WOMEN AND PEOPLE OF COLOR. RECENT DATA SHOWS HOW OUR DEPENDENCE ON TOURISM IS IMPACTING THOSE RATES. THE ACCOMMODATIONS IN THE FOOD SERVICE INDUSTRY WHICH INCLUDES HOTELS, MOTELS, RESTAURANTS AND BREWERIES HAD THE MOST CLAIMANTS. NEARLY 20,000. >> RIGHT NOW BEING OUT OF WORK, CANNOT AFFORD IT. BRITTANY: SHE IS ONE OF THOSE WORKERS. SHE WORKED AT THE SANTA ANA STAR CASINO AND HOTEL AND WASANA STAR FURLOUGHED FOR SIX MONTHS. >> AND THEN GOT CALLED BACK. TWO MONTHS LATER, THEY COVID TO CLOSE DOWN AGAIN. HER FAMILY HAS BEEN RELYING SOLELY ON HER HUSBAND’S INCOME. THOSE FUNDS ARE RUNNING OUT FAST RIGHT NOW. IT’S PROBABLY THROUGH THIS MONTH AND THEN WE’RE GONNA HIT HARD TIMES HARD TIMES STILL BEING HAD FROM THOSE IN HOSPITALITY TO MUSICIANS A TEACHERS. WHO MISS THIS. I’M HOPING WHEN SCHOOL STARTS BACK UP I CAN GET MY PROGRAMS GOING WHATEVER THAT MAY MEAN WITH WHATEVER. MODIFICATIONS THAT’S GOING TO REQUIRE FOR NOW. ERIC SAYS HE’S THANKFUL ON EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS JUST GOT EXTENDED THROUGH THE SUMMER. THANKS TO CONGRESS PASSING A NEW RELIEF BILL. HE SAYS HE’LL BE HOME STAYING SAFE WITH FAVORITE STUDENT HIS DAUGHTER. AS VACCINES SPEED UP AND THE STATE CONTINUES TO REOPEN WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS IS NOW WORKING ON NEW PROGRAMS TO GET NEW MEXICANS BACK TO WORK. THE DEPARTMENT SAYS THEY WILL SOON RELEASE A NEW HOTLINE FOR YOU TO CALL IF YOU DO NEED HELP OF COURSE PEOPLE ARE LEANING ON HELP FROM OUR FOOD BANKS LIKE NEVER BEFORE TAKE A LOOK AT THIS VIEW FROM SKY 7. YOU CAN SEE THE NEED CARS WRAPPED AROUND A PARKING LOT OUT OF THE HOLIDAYS WAITING FOR HELP FROM ROADRUNNER FOOD BANK LAST YEAR THEY GAVE ALMOST 4,000 MORE TONS OF FOOD THAN THE YEAR BEFORE THE NEED IS STILL HERE. THE WORKERS ARE PLANNING MORE DRIVE THROUGH DISTRIBUTIONS IN THE COMING MONTHS JUST BEFORE SPRING BREAK LAST YEAR THE GOVERNOR SENT KIDS AND TEACHERS HOME AND CLASSES BEGAN ONLINE THAT HAS NOT CHANGED FOR MANY DISTRICTS IN OUR AREA SHELLY RIBANDO EXPLAINS THE IMPACT. IT’S HAVING ON NEW MEXICO’S KIDS WHO HAVE BEEN IN SCHOOL HAD TO ADAPT TO A NEW WAY OF LEARNING NOW THAT WE’RE ALMOST A YEAR INTO EITHER REMOTE OR HYBRID THE EXPERTS ARE SEEING THE TOLL IT’S TAKING ON OUR GOVERNOR MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM GAVE SCHOOL DISTRICTS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR KIDS TO GO BACK INTO THE CLASSROOM, BUT THE ALBUQUERQUE PUBLIC SCHOOLS SYSTEM MADE THE DECISION NOT TO RETURN FOR THE REMAINDER OF THIS ACADEMIC YEAR A DISAPPOINTMENT FOR MANY PARENTS LIKE CHRIS PARTRIDGE A DAD AND FORMER EDUCATOR. HE’S WATCHED HIS SEVEN YEAR OLD SON A FIRST GRADER AT APS STRUGGLE. HE’S NEVER BEEN A FAN OF BEING AT HOME. I THINK HE WAS REALLY DEPRESSED WHEN THIS ALL STARTED BACK IN MARCH AND WE STARTED TO SEE START TO SEE A LOT MORE ANXIETY TO THE POINT WHERE WE NOT ONLY HAD HIM IN THERAPY. BUT WE WERE WE WERE CONSIDERING MEDICATING HIM A TOLL ON MOTIVATION MENTAL HEALTH AND OVERALL DEVELOPMENT THAT HEALTH PROFESSIONALS SAY COULD BE A LOT TOUGHER TO OVERCOME THAN JUST THE ACADEMICS ONCE THIS IS OVER. I DO THINK THAT WE’RE SEEING INCREASED AMOUNTS OF DEPRESSION ANXIETY FROM THE SOCIAL ISOLATION FROM THE THE LACK OF INTERACTION OTHER ADULTS BESIDES THEIR FAMILY. MEMBERS DR. ALEXANDER SAVANOVIC IS AN ALBUQUERQUE IN THE PRESIDENT OF THE NEW MEXICO PEDIATRIC SOCIETY. WE’RE JUST SEEING SKYROCKETING NUMBERS OF ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION SUICIDE ATTEMPTS SOME OF THE KEY REASONS THE DISTRICT IN NEVADA DECIDED TO REOPEN FOR IN-PERSON LEARNING AFTER 18 OF ITS STUDENTS TOOK THEIR OWN LIVES. I AM SEEING YOUNGER KIDS WITH ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION THAN I EVER HAVE SEEN TEACHERS UNION SAYING THEY WANT A VACCINE BEFORE RETURN. TO CLASS BUT THE CDC SAYS VACCINATING TEACHERS IS NOT NECESSARY TO REOPEN SCHOOLS SAFELY AND THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS HAS REPEATEDLY STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF KIDS RETURNING TO THE CLASSROOM. I ABSOLUTELY AGREE WITH THAT. I THINK WE NEED TO GET OUR KIDS BACK IN SCHOOL AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN SAFELY. DO I THINK WE NEED TO PRIORITIZE TEACHERS GETTING THE COVID VACCINE STANFORD UNIVERSITY RELEASED A STUDY SHOWING THEPCLA IS ADDING UP TO SOME STARTLING NUMBERS IN KIDS LOSING AN AVERAGE OF CLOSE TO 100 DAYS ALMOST A FULL SCHOOL YEAR IN SOME SCHOOL DISTRICTS. IT’S CLOSER TO 161 DAYS LOST MATH EVEN WORSE THE AVERAGE LOSS CLOSER TO 208 DAYS. I DO THINK THAT THERE HAS BEEN SOME TREMENDOUS DAMAGE DONE. I DO THINK THAT WHEN THE KIDS DO GO BACK. I THINK THAT THE SCHOOLS NEED TO BE PREPARED TO HANDLE A LOT OF POTENTIALLY ALMOST YOU KNOW PTSD LIKE SYMPTOMS A LONG ROAD AHEAD THAT HASN’T EVEN STARTED YET FOR DISTRICTS AND THE STUDENTS THEY SERVE I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT WE’RE GOING TO HAVE LONG-TERM EFFECTS IN THIS AGE GROUP IN THIS GENERATION STUDENTS IN RIO RANCHO ARE BACK IN THE CLASSROOM THAT DISTRICT APPROVED STARTING A HYBRID MODEL IN FEBRUARY. THE STATE WANTS ALL NEW MEXICO KIDS BACK IN A CLASSROOM BY APRIL 5TH RIGHT NOW TEACHERS ARE A PRIORITY TO BE VACCINATED BY THE END OF MARCH SCHOOL DISTRICTS. COURAGE TO HOLD CLASS AND LUNCHTIME OUTDOORS WHEN THE WEATHER’S NICE AIR PURIFICATION SANITIZING MASK WEARING AND SOCIAL DISTANCING ARE ALSO PRIORITIES. ULTIMATELY. IT’S UP TO PARENTS TO DECIDE IF THEY WANT THEIR KIDS BACK IN THE CLASSROOM. THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO IS OFFERING HYBRID CLASSES NOW, SO STUDENTS ARE ATTENDING SOME CLASSES IN PERSON AND DOING OTHERS FROM THEIR COMPUTER AT HOME ALL THE CLASSROOMS WERE RECONFIGURED TO PUT SIX FEET BETWEEN EVERYONE IN A CLASSROOM. DESPITE LIMITED IN PERSON LEARNING LAST YEAR UNM’S MAIN CAMPUS SAW AN INCREASE IN FRESHMAN EN. IN THE FALL OF 2020 SEVEN AND A HALF PERCENT FROM THE YEAR BEFORE THE STATE IS TRACKING ALL KINDS OF DATA ABOUT THE VIRUS AND AS TODD KURTZ EXPLAINS. THEY’RE EVEN LOOKING AT WHERE PEOPLE WHO GOT IT HAD BEEN BEFORE TESTING POSITIVE WITH EACH ONE OF THOSE CASES THE STATE TRACKS WHERE THE INFECTED PERSON HAS BEEN TRYING TO TRACE THEIR STEPS TO SEE WHEN AND WHERE THEY COULD HAVE SPREAD THE VIRUS TO OTHERS KOAT SPENT WEEKS FIGHTING TO GET DATA FROM THE STATE THAT SHOWS WHERE PEOPLE HAD BEEN IN THE DAYS LEADING UP TO TESTING POSITIVE FOR COVID-19 MORE THAN TO 80,000 NEW MEXICANS HAVE TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID-19. THE EXHAUSTION WAS UNREAL ASHLAND. PADILLA IS ONE OF THEM THE CHEST PAIN AND THE BREATHING WAS SUPER LABORED AND REALLY ODD AND I DON’T HAVE ASTHMA AND I’VE NEVER HAD ANY KIND OF LUNG ISSUES. SHE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST CASES IN THE STATE, BUT I KNEW THIS HAS TO BE THIS CORONAVIRUS THAT WE’RE JUST HEARING ABOUT IT WASN’T A THING REALLY ON THE NEWS. SO HOW DID SHE GET IT? I HAVE AN IDEA. SHE THINKS SHE CAUGHT IT ON A PLANE AND THAT WAS BEFORE. WEARING MASKS SO I WASN’T WEARING A MASK AND NOBODY ELSE WAS WEARING A MASK WHEN SHE TESTED POSITIVE. SHE GOT A CALL FROM THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT. THEY FIRST ASKED IF I COULD REMEMBER EVERY PERSON THAT I WAS IN CONTACT WITH AND THEN I GAVE THEM THEIR INFORMATION EMAILS PHONE NUMBERS THE FOR ASKING THOSE QUESTIONS ARE CONTACT TRACERS UNLESS YOU HAVE A KNOWN EXPOSURE. IT’S N CRAFTED COVID-19 BEEN AT THIS LOCATION OR BEING IN CONTACT WITH THESE PEOPLE OR DEVIATING FROM THE COVID-19 PRACTICES IN THESE WAYS TARGET 7. WANTED TO KNOW WHAT STATE CONTACT TRACERS LEARNED FROM CONVERSATIONS WITH THOUSANDS OF NEW MEXICANS INFECTED WITH COVID TARGET 7 OBTAINED THE DATA FOR THE PAST SEVEN MONTHS THAT SHOWS WHERE PEOPLE WITH COVID HAD BEEN PRIOR TO TESTING. POSITIVE LOOK IT ALL BREAKS DOWN 12% OF THE PEOPLE. TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID-19 SAID THEY HAD TRAVELED OUTSIDE OF THE STATE IN THE PAST TWO WEEKS 5% HAD GONE TO CHURCH 2% THE GYM 9% HAD ATTENDED SOME SORT OF A GATHERING AND 29% HAD GONE SHOPPING THAT CHART SHOWS THAT RESTAURANTS ARE NOT PART OF THE PROBLEM AND THAT WE NEED TO FEEL SAFE GOING BACK INTO RESTAURANTS. THE DATA SHOWS EIGHT PERCENT HAD BEEN TO A RESTAURANT OR BREWERY CAROL WRIGHT WITH THE RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION TOOK NOTICE OF THAT NUMBER RESTAURANTS IN MEXICO HAVE BEEN UNFAIRLY ARGUMENT. SHE SAID RESTAURANTS HAVE STRUGGLED TO SURVIVE THE PUBLIC HEALTH ORDER RESTRICTIONS. THE GOVERNOR HAS SAID DATA FROM CONTACT TRACING IS HOW THEY DECIDE WHAT STAYS OPEN AND WHAT CLOSES NOW WE TOOK THE DATA TARGET 7 ANALYZED TO THE GOVERNOR. SHE SAID ONE OF THE REASONS RESTAURANTS AND BREWERIES ARE SO LOW IS BECAUSE OF HER RESTRICTIONS WE TAKE IS BECAUSE THEY’VE BEEN CLOSE SO THAT THERE’S JUST NOT THAT OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT THE DATA WHEN WE OPEN THEM THAT DATE IS JUST SIGNIFICANTLY DURING TIME PERIOD THIS CHART PUBLISHED ON THE STATE’S WEBSITE ILLUSTRATES WHAT THE GOVERNOR IS TALKING ABOUT THE NUMBER OF COVID-19 CASES AT RESTAURANTS, WHICH IS REPRESENTED BY THE GREEN LINE. YOU CAN SEE AS THINGS STARTED TO OPEN BACK UP IN SEPTEMBER THE NUMBER OF CASES AT RESTAURANTS ALSO GOES BACK UP BUT SHOPPING WHICH IS THE YELLOW LINE HAS ALWAYS BEEN ON TOP ALMOST A YEAR LATER AND FINALLY FEELING BETTER WHEN PADILLA GOT THE PHONE CALL FROM A CONTACT TRACER. SHE SAID SHE HAD NO PROBLEM TELLING THEM WHERE SHE HAD BEEN BUT NOT EVERYONE. DOES THAT ACCORDING TO THE STATE ABOUT 35% OF THE PEOPLE DON’T EVEN ANSWER THEY WERE WONDERFUL AND HELPFUL AND YOU DON’T FEEL LIKE YOU’RE IN TROUBLE. YOU’RE JUST TRYING TO GET THE WORD OUT THERE THAT. I WAS THERE AND I COULD HAVE POSSIBLY GOTTEN YOU SICK. WE ALSO LOOKED AT DADA FROM NURSING HOMES AND FOUND FOUR PERCENT OF POSITIVE CASES CAME FROM THERE OR LONG-TERM CARE FACILITY. THERE IS NO QUESTION. THE VACCINES HAVE BEEN A GAME CHANGER FOR NEW MEXICO, BUT GETTING THEM OUT TO EVERY CORNER OF THE STATE IS A MONUMENTAL TASK. WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE LOGISTICS BEHIND GETTING SHOTS ADMINISTERED PLUS THE SPIRIT THAT THE POWELL GATHERING OF NATIONS GENERATES. THAT’S WHAT WE’RE TRYING TO KEEP GOING EVENTS CANCELED OR FORCED TO GO VIRTUAL BUT A LATER, SOME ORGANIZERS ARE LOOKING TO BRING PEOPLE BACK AND STRUGGLES STILL BEING FACED BY NEW MEXICO ATHLETES ALL STILL AHEAD ON CORONAVIRUS IMPACT OUR RECOVERY IN NEW MEXICO. WHEN THE CORONAVIRUS STARTED SPREADING FROM CONTINENT TO CONTINENT, NEW MEXICO TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE MANY SCIENTISTS WORKING IN THIS STATE AND OUR NATIONAL LABS FOR WAYS TO FORECAST THE VIRUS HERE IN WAYS TO STOP THE SPREAD. SANDIA LABS HAS WORKED ON 80 DIFFERENT COVID-19 PROJECTS. THEY’VE STUDIED HOW DROPLETS SPREAD WHEN WE SNEEZE OR COUGH AND THEY’RE LOOKING FOR WAYS TO MAKE THOSE HIGH QUALITY N95 MASKS ARE HEALTH CARE WORKERS WEAR FIT BETTER AND LAST LONGER AND REMEMBER WHEN THERE WAS A CONCERNED HOSPITALS WOULD RUN OUT OF VENTILATORS. WELL, SANDIA CREATED A WAY TO HELP IN ATTACHMENT FOR MEDICAL EQUIPMENT. ALREADY EXISTED TO SOLVE THAT PROBLEM SCIENTISTS SAY THEY ARE PARTNERING WITH MANY AGENCIES ACROSS THE GLOBE TO INVENT WASTE TO MAKE THE PANDEMIC MORE MANAGEABLE EXPERTS AT LOS ALAMOS NATIONAL LABORATORIES TO BUILD A MODEL TO HELP FLATTEN THE CURVE. THEY ALSO BUILT THE MODEL TO PREDICT HOW CASES WILL CHANGE GIVEN CURRENT TRENDS AND ANALYZE SCHOOLS AND HOW THE VIRUS COULD SPREAD IN CLASSROOMS THE STATE YOU SCIENCE IN DATA TO MAKE CATEGORIES FOR WHO GETS VACCINE FIRST AND HOW THEY’RE PICKED FOR AN APPOINTMENT. THOSE CATEGORIES ARE GOING TO BE CHANGING AS THE VACCINE SUPPLY PINCREASES NANCY LAFLIN SHOWS US HOW THE VACCINE IS ROLLED OUT, NEW MEXICO FROM WHEN IT ARRIVES IN THE STATE TO WHEN IT GETS PUT IN YOUR ARM WHEN IT COMES TO THESE SHOTS. THERE IS SIMPLY MORE DEMAND THAN SUPPLY EACH WEEK THE FEDS DECIDE HOW MUCH VACCINE GOES TO EACH STATE ONCE IT ARRIVES THE NEW MEXICO DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH DECIDES WHERE IT GOES FROM THERE. WE’VE BEEN LOOKING AT THINGS LIKE CASE POSITIVITY RATE. EVAN COUNTY AND SOCIAL VULNERABILITY THE VACCINE IS DISTRIBUTED TO HEALTH PROVIDERS WHO GIVE OUT THE SHOTS AT LOVELESS BIOMEDICAL. IT IS A WELL-OILED MACHINE. HERE’S A LOOK AT HOW THEY GET THAT PFIZER VACCINE OUT A VACCINE THAT MUST BE KEPT IN FREEZING. ONCE OUT OF THE FREEZER IT SORTED INTO PLASTIC BAGS THEN PUT INTO LARGE FREEZER CONTAINERS THEN THE NATIONAL GUARD STEPS IN KEPT IN VERY COLD CONTAINERS THE GUARD HAND DELIVERS THE VACCINE WITH THE CLOCK TICKING. THEY HAVE TO BE USED IN FIVE DAYS WITH ALL DISTRIBUTION IF THERE’S ANY RISK OF ANY VACCINE EXPIRING PROVIDERS CONTACT THE STATE AND THEY GET THE WORD OUT IF THAT HAPPENS WE CAN HELP PUSH ADDITIONAL INVITATIONS TO THEM THROUGH THE REGISTRATION SITE WHEN IT COMES TO DISTRIBUTION THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH RECENTLY UPDATED ITS HEALTH ORDER REMINDING NEW MEXICANS BE HONEST IF YOU LIE ON YOUR REGISTRATION AND JUMP THE LINE YOU COULD FACE UP TO A $5,000 FINE NANCY LAFLIN KAT ACTION 7 NEWS LIKE WALGREENS CVS IN ALBERTSONS ARE NOW BEING BROUGHT ON BOARD TO VACCINATE NEW MEXICANS AGAIN, THOUGH DEPENDS ON THE SUPPLY COMING INTO THE STATE OUR ROYAL THEY LEARNED BEING ABLE TO MAKE A A VACCINE QUICKLY AND IN BIG AMOUNTS. IS A PROJECT BEING WORKED ON HERE IN OUR STATE SCIENTISTS ALL OVER THE WORLD AND HERE IN NEW MEXICO ARE WORKING ON DIFFERENT VACCINES TO STOP THE PANDEMIC A VACCINE IN THE WORKS A UNMH WOULD BE DIFFERENT THAN THE OTHER THREE ON THE MARKET. NOW, HERE’S WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE SCIENTISTS ARE DECORATING VIRUS LIKE PARTICLES TO FAKE OUT THE VIRUS. SO THE BODY WILL BUILD IMMUNITY THEIR GOAL IS TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO DEVELOP THIS TECHNOLOGY TO MASS-PRODUCE EFFECTIVE VACCINE IN THE FUTURE PICK AN EVENT. IT WAS PROBABLY CANCELED OR DRASTICALLY. IN 2020, BUT ORGANIZERS OF NEW MEXICO’S MOST POPULAR GATHERINGS ARE ALREADY PLANTIG FOR A BIG 2021 AND THE STATE IS HOPING THOSE EVENTS WILL BRING BACK SOME MUCH-NEEDED TOURISM DOLLARS. IT’S OUR ECONOMY STRUGGLES TO RECOVER. THROUGHOUT THE YEAR IN NEW MEXICO IS HOME TO SOME MAJOR EVENTS DRAWING CROWDS OF PEOPLE FROM AROUND THE WORLD, BUT LAST YEAR NONE OF THOSE EVENTS HAPPENED AT LEAST NOT WITH PEOPLE THERE IN PERSON BECAUSE MASS GATHERINGS WERE BANNED THE FIRST TO GO VERY EARLY IN THE PANDEMIC WHEN WE DIDN’T YET KNOW. REACH THE GATHERING OF NATIONS IN THE SUMMER THE SANTA FE INDIAN MARKET IS ADVERTISED AS THE LARGEST MARKET DEVOTED TO NATIVE AMERICAN ARTS IN THE WORLD. IT DIDN’T HAPPEN 60,000 PEOPLE WOULD NORMALLY PACK FORT MARCY PARK AND SANTA FE TO WATCH THE BURNING OF THE ZOBRA OLD MAN GLOOM REPRESENTS THE STRUGGLES AND ANGUISH IN ALL OF US AND WHEN HE BURNS IT SYMBOLIZES A NEW BEGINNING THE PAST GOING UP IN SMOKE. THE ORGANIZERS FELT IS OVER. DID MORE THAN EVER IN 2020? SO KOAT BECAME THE OFFICIAL BROADCASTER OF THE EVENT WE HEARD FROM PEOPLE IN 14 COUNTRIES WHO WATCHED HIM FALL TO ASHES. AT THE END OF THE SUMMER IT BECAME APPARENT THAT FALLS WAS CANCELED TOO. THERE WOULD BE NO STATE FAIR. AND NO BALLOON FIESTA BUT ONE THING WE ALL LOOK FORWARD TO AS THE SMELL FILLS THE AIR ROASTED CHILI. DRIVE-THRU STANDS WERE SET UP AROUND TOWN. SO NEW MEXICANS COULD AT LEAST GET A TASTE OF FALL THOSE BIG EVENTS MEAN REVENUE FOR ALBUQUERQUE SUNPORT. SO TAKE A LOOK HERE AT THIS CHART. IT SHOWS THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE FLYING IN AND OUT OF THE SUNPORT THE TOP LINE IN BLUE REPRESENTS 2019 THAT BOTTOM LINE IN YELLOW REPRESENTS 2020. SO LOOK AT HERE. WE’RE TRAVEL JUST PLUMMETED IN APRIL OF 2020. THAT’S WHEN LOCKDOWNS WERE IN EFFECT AND TRAVEL CAME TO A NEAR HALT. ANOTHER THING TO NOTICE HERE IS THIS POINT IN 19 WHERE IT GETS PRETTY HIGH YOU CAN SEE THAT’S BALLOON FIESTA THAT YEAR 527,000 TRIPS WERE MADE IN AND OUT OF THE SUNPORT IT IS THE BIGGEST TIME FOR TRAVEL AT THE SUNPORT. BUT YEAH TAKE A LOOK AT IT IN 2020. THAT’S OCTOBER 2020 THE YEAR FIESTA WAS CANCELED BECAUSE OF COVID WE ONLY HAVE DATA FOR JANUARY OF THIS YEAR DOWN SLIGHTLY FROM DECEMBER 2020. AS ANCHOR ROYAL DAY EXPLAINS THE STATE IS HOPING AT LEAST SOME OF THESE BIG EVENTS CAN GO ON THIS YEAR WITH SOME CREATIVE AND COVID-19 AS THE NUMBER OF POSITIVE CASES IN HOSPITALIZATIONS. GO DOWN THE OUTLOOK ON EVENTS. THIS YEAR IS LOOKING UP. THIS PARTICULAR PAST YEAR WAS A BIT OF A CHALLENGE THE DRUMMING AND MULTICOLORED TRADITIONAL CLOTHES OF NATIVE. AMERICAN DANCERS WILL BE HEARD AND SEEN DURING THE GATHERING OF NATIONS POW. WOW THIS BUT IT’LL BE LINE AGAIN. IT’S INEVITABLE THAT WE WON’T BE ABLE TO OPEN HERE AND WE WOULDN’T OPEN HERE UNTIL WE’RE SURE THAT IT’S SAFE TO BRING EVERYBODY BACK. THIS IS THE SECOND. SIDE OF TINGLEY COLISEUM AT EXPO NEW MEXICO IT DRAWS DANCERS FROM HUNDREDS OF TRIBES IN THE US CANADA AND MEXICO DEREK. MATTHEW SAYS LAST YEAR’S VIRTUAL POWELL WAS VIEWED BY MORE THAN 700,000 PEOPLE. HE SAYS THEY’RE EXPECTING A BIG AND VIRTUAL CROWD IN 2021. AS WELL. SO THIS TIME AROUND WE’RE ANTICIPATING THREE TO 500 DANCERS AND SINGERS AND THE OUTSIDE AUDIENCE COULD BE IN UPWARDS AGAIN IN THE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HE SAYS, THEY AND THOSE WHO APPRECIATE NATIVE AMERICAN CULTURE STRONG KEEPING THE PEOPLE TUNED IN THE SPIRIT THAT THAT THE POWER OF GATHERING OF NATIONS GENERATES. THAT’S WHAT WE’RE TRYING TO KEEP GOING. ALSO AT EXPO NEW MEXICO THE STATE FAIR ACCORDING TO ORGANIZERS THEY WILL HOLD THEIR EVENT THIS SEPTEMBER 9TH THROUGH THE 19TH. THEY SAY IT’LL BE A FULL FARE ADJUSTED ACCORDINGLY TO THE CURRENT PUBLIC HEALTH ORDER STAFF WILL PUT INTO PLACE COVID-19 PRACTICES ACROSS THE FAIRGROUNDS. THIS ALSO GOES FOR VENDORS. THIS OCTOBER HOT AIR BALLOONS ARE BACK THE THEME FOR THE 49TH ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL BALLOON. FIESTA IS TIME FLIES ORGANIZERS. SAY MARK YOUR CALENDARS BECAUSE IT IS A GO FOR OCTOBER 2ND THROUGH THE 10TH EX. HOW IT’LL WORK THIS YEAR IS STILL BEING WORKED OUT BUT THE BALLOON FIESTA TEAM SAYS THEY ARE PLANNING TO LAUNCH 600 PLUS BALLOONS TO SANTA FE NOW AND THE INDIAN MARKET WERE HUNDREDS OF NATIVE AMERICAN ARTISTS SELL THEIR WORK LAST YEAR. THEY HAD A VIRTUAL SHOW AND THE DIRECTOR TELLS KOAT. IT WAS A SUCCESS DESPITE THE BIG CHANGE ACCORDING TO THE INDIAN MARKET TEAM ARTIST HAD EXCELLENT SALES FOR 2021. THE DIRECTORS SAYS THEY’RE HOPEFUL TO HAVE AN IN-PERSON MARKET. BACK THIS AUGUST. THE BOARD IS HOPING TO MAKE A FINAL DECISION SOON. THE DIRECTOR SAYS IT LOOKS PROMISING THE INDIAN MARKET IF IT DOES RETURN SHE SAYS MAY LOOK A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT WITH COVID-19 PRACTICES. THERE MAY EVEN BE A HYBRID VERSION HALF IN PERSON AND HALF ONLINE WILL KEEP YOU POSTED. IT’S BEEN A ROUGH YEAR WITH OUR EVENTS HAVING TO CHANGE SO QUICKLY, BUT AS THINGS SLOWLY RETURN TO NORMAL THE PEOPLE WHO PUT ON THESE EVENTS ARE EXCITED TO WELCOME YOU AND YOUR FAMILY BACK. AND IT’S NOT JUST SPECIAL EVENTS AND GURON BURKE SHOWS US HOW OUR STATE’S TOURISM INDUSTRY AS A WHOLE IS DEALING WITH A HIT ONE OF THE NATION’S MOST POPULAR PARKS IS HOPING TO REBOUND THIS YEAR PEOPLE STILL VISITED WHITE SANDS NATIONAL PARK DURING THE PANDEMIC, BUT NOT A LOT THE EXPERIENCE A 34% DROP IN VISITS DURING THE PANDEMIC. I’M FEELING SO GREAT TO BE OUTSIDE. THIS IS LIKE SOUL FOOD FOR US WHEN THE SLOPES OPEN IN THE WINTER OF 2020 SKIERS WERE RELIEVED EVEN IF THE LIFTS HAD COVID’S RESTRICTIONS FAMILIES OF FRIENDS TRAVELING TOGETHER. CAN RIDE LIVES TOGETHER BUT SINGLE SKIERS CANNOT SHARE BENCH WITH ANYONE MASKS ARE REQUIRED AND PEOPLE STAY SIX FEET APART IN LINES, AND IT’S A PRIORITY TO GET TOURS BACK TO OUR STATE. ANCHOR TODD KURTZ FOUND OUT THERE’S A PLAN TO CREATE A REBOUND. YEAH. IT’S GOING TO TAKE A WHILE BECAUSE IT’S AN INDUSTRY THAT TOOK A MAJOR BLOW IN 2019 VISITORS SPENDING WAS AT AN ALL-TIME HIGH SEVEN AND A HALF BILLION DOLLARS TOURISM DEPARTMENT IS EXPECTING MORE THAN A FOUR BILLION DOLLAR LOSS IN TOURISM BECAUSE OF COVID. IT’S A BIG BLOW TO BIG ATTRACTIONS LIKE THE VIA TRAM 2020 WAS A ROUGH YEAR GENERAL MANAGER FOR THE SANDIA PEAK TRIM, MICHAEL DONOVAN SAID IN A TYPICAL YEAR. THEY HAVE ABOUT A QUARTER OF A MILLION RIDERS IN 2020 LOSE AROUND 60,000. THEY WERE SHUT DOWN TWICE 108 DAYS IN THE SPRING AND THEN ANOTHER 32 DAYS NEAR THE END OF THE YEAR. THEY DID KEEP SOME WORKERS EMPLOYED. THE MAINTENANCE CREW HAD TO KEEP RUNNING THE CARS. WE WANT TO TRAIN THE RUN. YOU DON’T JUST LET IT SIT IF IT SITS AND THINGS LIKE THAT A LOT OF FLUIDS AND WE ALSO NEED TO GET OUT AND GREASE THE TOWERS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. SO THERE’S ONGOING MAINTENANCE WHETHER YOU’RE OPERATING TO THE PUBLIC OR NOT THAT HAS TO CONTINUE AND YOU KNOW, THIS PANDEMIC HIT THE BIG ATTRACTIONS LIKE THE TRAM ALL THE WAY TO THE MOM AND POP SHOPS ON OUR PLAZAS AND THE ARTISANS WHO USED TO LINE THE SIDES OF THOSE STREETS EVERYTHING THAT TOUCHES TOURISM WAS IMPACTED AND THAT AFFECTS OUR STATE’S BOTTOM LINE. I WANT TO SHOW YOU A FEW GRAPHS HERE THAT REALLY EMPHASIZE HOW BAD THE TOURISM SECTOR HAS BEEN HIT FIRST UP HERE. THIS IS STATE. TRAVEL SPENDING EACH WEEK DURING THE PANDEMIC COMPARED TO THAT SAME WEEK FROM 2019. EVERY SINGLE WEEK IS DOWN. THE MOST WAS 84% IN MID-APRIL. UNEMPLOYMENT THE ORANGE LINE HERE IS GOING TO BE LEISURE AND HOSPITALITY JOBS. SO JUST LOOK AT THIS DROP WHEN THE PANDEMIC HIT AND STILL IN DECEMBER OR 30,000 NEW MEXICAN LEISURE AND HOSPITALITY WORKERS WITHOUT A JOB. LASTLY STATEWIDE OCCUPANCY RATE WHERE IT WAS BEFORE THE PANDEMIC AND THEN LOOK AT THE BOTTOM JUST DROP RIGHT THERE. THAT’S MARCH IN APRIL. WE’VE SEEN SOME RECOVERY AT THE HOTELS HERE AS OF MORE RECENTLY, BUT STILL JUST NOWHERE NEAR WHERE IT WAS BEFORE THE CORONAVIRUS. THE SECRETARY FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM THINKS IT’LL TAKE SIX TO SEVEN YEARS TO GET BACK TO OUR 2019 LEVELS FOR TOURISM. BUT WE AS NEW MEXICANS CAN HELP SPEED THIS UP RIGHT NOW MORE THAN EVER. THEY ARE ASKING YOU TO GET OUT AND EXPLORE OUR BEAUTIFUL STATE EVEN IF YOU’VE BEEN TO A SPOT BEFORE LIKE THE TRAM REDISCOVER IT WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE THEM TOP OF THE SAND IS AN AMAZING PLACE TO RECREATE REDISCOVER SOME GREAT HIKING TRAILS SPEND YOUR MONEY HERE TAKE WEEKEND TRIPS. HERE VISIT PLACES. YOU’VE NEVER BEEN THAT ARE RIGHT HERE IN THE LAND OF ENCHANTMENT AND I’LL SEE YOU OUT THERE ON THE ROAD AND NOW ANCHOR DOUG FERNANDEZ SHOWS US HOW IT WAS NOT JUST THE PANDEMIC SHUTTING DOWN BUSINESSES IN THE SUMMER A TIME TYPICALLY BIG FOR TOURISM MANY BUSINESSES WERE CLOSED AND THEN DAMAGED DURING PROTESTS PEOPLE FILLED ALBUQUERQUE FOR CHANGE AND EQUALITY IN THIS VIDEO FROM JUNE OF 2020. YOU CAN SEE FIRES IN DOWNTOWN ALBUQUERQUE THE DEATH OF GEORGE. EVEN WITH MASS GATHERING LIMITS SOME PEOPLE MASKED UP IN SUPPORT OF A BLACK LIVES MATTER MOVEMENT ABOUT 200 PEOPLE WERE AT CIVIC PLAZA DURING THIS SILENT PROTEST. FIGHT FOR EQUALITY HAPPENED DURING THE PANDEMIC AND LED TO A FOCUS ON HOW THE VIRUS WAS DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTING UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES SHELLEY MINORITIES IN NEW MEXICO HAVE BEEN AFFECTED MORE BY THE PANDEMIC NEARLY HALF OF OUR STATE’S COVID-19 CASES INFECTED HISPANIC OR LATINO PEOPLE THAT GROUP ALSO MAKES UP 40% OF OUR STATE’S DEATHS BUT VACCINATION RATES ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY LOW, TOO. LOOK AT DATA FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH HERE AT THE END OF FEBRUARY ONLY 14.6% OF LATINOS IN THE STATE HAD ONE VACCINE DOSE. PERCENT WERE FULLY VACCINATED LOOKING AT THE BLACK AND AFRICAN-AMERICAN POPULATION. ALMOST 11% HAVE ONE DOSE 6% HAVE BOTH NATIVE AMERICANS ARE IN THE GROUP WITH THE MOST VACCINATED PEOPLE COMPARED TO TOTAL POPULATION MORE THAN A QUARTER ARE PARTIALLY VACCINATED AND 12% FULLY THE STATE ADDED A PLAN TO ENSURE EQUITY TO MAKE SURE VACCINES GO TO THE MOST VULNERABLE OF OUR NEIGHBORS A CDC MODEL USED TO ASSESS A COMMUNITY AND ITS ABILITY TO ENDURE NATURAL DISASTER IS BEING USED TO PRIORITIZE PEOPLE. TAKES INTO ACCOUNT FACTORS LIKE MINORITY STATUS LANGUAGE AND HOUSING AND TRANSPORTATION NEEDS THE PLAN CREATES WALK IN AND MOBILE VACCINATION CLINICS FOR A NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE PEOPLE MAY NOT EASILY BE ABLE TO GET TO OTHER AREAS OF TOWN TO GET THE VACCINE. THERE’S BEEN A BIG FEDERAL AND STATE PUSH TO HELP OUR NATIVE AMERICAN COMMUNITIES. ANCHOR KAELYN NORWOOD TALKED TO THE LEADERS OF SEVERAL TRIBES IN PUEBLOS. SHE FOUND OUT VACCINATION RATES IN INDIAN COUNTRY ARE SURPASSING THE REST OF THE NATION SHELLEY NATIVE AMERICANS WERE HIT A SPECIALTY HARD BY THIS PANDEMIC AT ONE POINT. A WHOLE NATION HAD THE HIGHEST INFECTIOUS RATE PER CAPITA IN THE US SURPASSING NEW YORK, BUT NOW TRIBES ARE TURNING THINGS AROUND. THE PUEBLO OF ZIA WITH THE POPULATION OF 930 ONCE WELCOMED VISITORS WITH OPEN ARMS, BUT TODAY IS CLOSED OFF. WE’RE NOT LIVING ANY OTHER COMMUNITY ON NON-COMING TEAM MEMBERS COME IN INTO OUR RESERVATION. I STAYED OUTSIDE THE ENTRANCE TO SPEAK TO THEIR GOVERNOR BECAUSE THEY’RE STILL A LOCKDOWN NEARLY ONE YEAR LATER GOVERNOR. JEROME LUCERO SAYS LAST APRIL THE TRIBE HAD MORE THAN 150 COVID CASES, AND HE WAS ONE OF THEM IT WAS I THINK PRETTY SCARY. I THINK EVERYBODY WAS PRETTY IT FROM WHEN WE FIRST HEARD OUR FIRST CASE. AND FROM THEN ON IT JUST GOT SCARY. HE SAID SUDDENLY 13 TO 15% OF THEIR POPULATION HAD CONTRACTED COVID AND HE BLAMED SOCIAL GATHERINGS. WE ARE SO USED TO FEASTING AND YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT’S WHAT WE MISS A LOT IS OUR TRADITIONS WHEN WE’RE DANCING. AND COMING TOGETHER AS PABLO PEOPLE JUST WAS IS A NAVAJO NATION THE LARGEST TRIBE IN NEW MEXICO AND THE UNITED STATES. I SPOKE TO THEIR PRESIDENT JONATHAN NEZ PER CAPITA. WE WERE HIGHEST IN THE COUNTRY. AND COVID POSITIVE CASES. HE’S TALKING ABOUT IN MAY WHEN THEY SURPASS NEW YORK FOR THE HIGHEST INFECTION RATE PER CAPITA IN THE US MORE THAN 2,300 CASES PER 100,000 PEOPLE FACTORS THAT BROUGHT THEM THERE PRESIDENT NEZ SAYS MULTIPLE GENERATIONS LIVING UNDER ONE ROOF AND THE FACT THAT 30 TO 40 PERCENT DON’T HAVE CLEAN DRINKING WATER CDC TONE. THE PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THIS COUNTRY TO WASH THEIR HANDS WITH SOAP AND WATER. THAT’S VERY DIFFICULT IN INDIAN COUNTRY. SO TO GET THROUGH THIS PANDEMIC HE PUT TOUGH PROTOCOLS IN PLACE LIKE LOCKDOWNS AND WEAKENED CURFEWS PLUS THE INFORMATION TO THE NAVAJO. PEOPLE WAS CRITICAL THROUGHOUT THIS PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY. DR. FAUCI WAS ON OUR TOWN HALL MEETING. I THINK THIS CAN SERVE ALMOST AS A MODEL TO SO MANY OTHER LOCATIONS OUTSIDE OF THE NAVAJO NATION AND BY SEPTEMBER FELTY PRAISE THEIR PROGRESS TODAY CASE NUMBERS ARE DOWN AT THE TEENS AND THE PRIMARY FOCUS IS ON THE VACCINE. JUST LET EVERYBODY KNOW IF WE’RE TELLING PEOPLE TO TAKE THE VACCINE AND WE’RE GONNA TAKE IT OURSELF TO BRING CONFIDENCE AND I THERE’S AN OVERWHELMING INTEREST IN TAKING THE VACCINE NOW BACK IN ZIA PUEBLO THINGS ARE LOOKING UP. GOVERNOR LUCERO TOLD ME 80% OF THE TRIBE IS NOW VACCINATED. IT WAS AWESOME. WE’RE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. IT’S THE WAY I FEEL. BUT THEN AGAIN I CAN’T TRUST THE I CAN’T TRUST THE VIRUS. WE’VE GOT HIT HEART ONE TIME AND I DON’T WANT TO GET HIT HARD AGAIN. RIGHT NOW ONE THIRD OF THOSE ON THE NAVAJO NATION ARE VACCINATED PRESIDENT. NEZ SAYS HE HOPES TO GET THAT TO 50% AND REOPEN THEIR SCHOOL SOON GOVERNOR LUCERO BELIEVES ZIA PUEBLO CAN GET OVER 90% OF THE TRIVACCINATED BY THE END OF THE MONTH OUR FRONTLINE WORKERS HEROES DURING THIS PANDEMIC, BUT FOR THOSE IN TRAINING, IT’S BEEN A ROAD THAT HAS SEEN A LOT OF PEOPLE QUIT WHY THOSE STILL ON THE PAST SAY THE PAIN IS WORTH THE PRICE NEXT. IT’S SOMETHING MANY YOUNG PEOPLE AIM FOR THEY LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING TO HIGH SCHOOL A SORT OF WRITE A PASSAGE WHERE THEY CAN TEST. I WAS AGAINST THEIR PEERS WORKING HARD TO DEVELOP SKILLS THAT COULD LAUNCH THEM TO THE NEXT LEVEL ARMED WITH A COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP THAT COULD SET THE DIRECTION FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES. THE LAST YEAR HAS TAKEN THREE LOCAL STUDENT ATHLETES. WE MET IN VASTLY DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS AS NEW MEXICO. SHUT THE DOOR ON COMPETITIVE SPORTS IN EARLY 2020 IT CAUSED THEM TO REASSESS THE FUTURE IN WAYS. THEY NEVER IMAGINED WE ALL HAVE THIS PLAN A THAT, YOU KNOW QUESTION. HERE’S GONNA COME AROUND. IT’S MY TURN RYAN COOK WAS HOPING TO HAVE A FULL SEASON THEY’RE STARTING QUARTERBACK AT LA CUEVA HIGH SCHOOL INSTEAD. HE SAYS THE BEST HE CAN COUNT ON NOW IS A COUPLE SPRING GAMES COVID RESTRICTIONS COST HIM MOMENTUM. HE COULD HAVE BUILT TOWARD A POSSIBLE DIVISION 1 COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP FORCING HIS FAMILY TO CONSIDER A CHANGE IN GAME PLAN, YOU KNOW MY PARENTS AND I’VE TALKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW GOING JUCO I HAVE A LOT OF FOOTBALL LEFT IN ME WHILE RYAN COULD BE HEADED TO JUNIOR COLLEGE TO BOOST HIS STOCK A PAIR OF STANDOUT SOCCER PLAYERS SOME RIO RANCHO HIGH CREATED VERY DIFFERENT OPTIONS OUTSIDE OF HIGH SCHOOL WHEN IT BECAME CLEAR IN 2020 THAT COVID WOULD THREATEN THEIR UP. SEASONS THEY AT LEAST HAD AN OUTLET IN CLUB SOCCER ONCE COVIDERE. YOU JUST KIND OF GOTTA JUST GOTTA KIND OF DEAL WITH IT NO SENSE IN DWELLING ON IT LAMAR BYNUM GAVE UP BASKETBALL TO FOCUS SOLELY ON SOCCER HIS SENIOR YEAR. I WENT THE WHOLE YEAR OF 2020 WITHOUT THE IDEA IF I’M A HAVE A SEASON OR NOT. WHAT’S GONNA BE MY NEXT MOVE? HIS OPPORTUNITIES CHANGED LEBAR WAS ALREADY PLAYING CLUB SOCCER WITH NEW MEXICO RUSH WHEN IN JANUARY HE SIGNED WITH THE INAUGURAL NEW MEXICO UNITED ACADEMY TEAM MADE UP OF ELITE PLAYERS FROM THE STATE. AND HE’S HOPING TO GET BACK A PIECE OF HIS SENIOR SEASON SINCE APS RECENTLY. OKAY, THE RETURN OF SPORTS BUT LIKE MANY OTHER ATHLETES LAMAR DOESN’T HAVE AN EARLY COMMITMENT TO A COLLEGE. HE HAD EXPECTED TO MAKE A DECISION BY LAST AUGUST NOW, I WANT TO TRY AND COMMIT BEFORE THE SUMMER BEFORE JUNE, BUT I’M ALWAYS FLEXIBLE IF IT’S NOT THE RIGHT OPTION. NOT THE RIGHT THING. I’M NOT GONNA FORCE IT INSTEAD OF SPENDING HER FRESHMAN YEAR AT RIO RANCHO HIGH 14 YEAR OLDS SOCCER STAND OUT LEAH, VARELA IS ENROLLED AT FAM. IMG ACADEMY IN FLORIDA WHERE SHE’S GETTING EXPERT INSTRUTION AND COMPETING WITH OTHER ELITE PLAYERS HER AGE FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY. IT’S A MAJOR FINANCIAL COMMITMENT, BUT HER PARENTS FELT STAYING IN NEW MEXICO WAS NOT AN OPTION. YOU KNOW, YOU’RE 14 15 PLAYERS DEEP OF TOP PLAYERS AND BEING ABLE TO TRAIN WITH THEM ON A DAILY BASIS AND BEING ABLE TO COMPETE HER GAME HAS HAS IMPROVED TREMENDOUSLY HERE WAS COACHES AND NOW WE HAVE NUTRITION COACHES. MENTAL COACHES, IT’S JUST FURTHER UNDERSTANDING NOT ONLY THE SOCCER SIDE, BUT WHAT GOES ON MENTALLY LYDIA THINKS IT’S UNFAIR THAT SPORTS WAS TAKEN AWAY FROM STUDENTS IN NEW MEXICO. AND SO DOES RYAN COOK THE LAQUAVER QUARTERBACK SENT GAME VIDEO TO COLLEGE COACHES. HOPING TO GET A CHANCE TO IMPRESS THAT COVID TOOK AWAY MISSING OUT ON GUARANTEED 10 GAMES AND AND GETTING MYSELF INTO THE VARSITY SPEED AND PLAY STYLE AND EVERYTHING AND THEN HAVING A LIMITED AMOUNT OF PRACTICE. IT’S OFF ANOTHER RYAN’S CONCERNS IS THERE MAY BE FEWER SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE BECAUSE OF THE SO CALLED COVID-19 YEAR THE NCAA’S GRANTING OF AN EXTRA YEAR OF ELIGIBILITY TO ATHLETES WHO SEASON WAS IMPACTED BY THE PANDEMIC NOW NM UNITED WOULD NORMALLY BE PLAYING GAMES RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF COVID THE SEASON STILL IS NOT STARTED, BUT WHEN THEY DO KICK OFF, IT LOOKS LIKE FANS WILL GET TO BE THERE FOR THE ACTION UNITED PLANS TO PLAY HOME MATCHES AT ISOTOPES PARK AGAIN WITH ABOUT 3,100 FANS ALLOWED OF COURSE MASKS WILL BE REQUIRED AND FANS WILL BE SPACED OUT IN THE STANDS STILL. THIS IS A BIG FORWARD FROM LAST YEAR WHEN THE TEAM PLAYED EVERY GAME AWAY FROM HOME MEANING THEY HAD NOT PLAYED A MATCH AT THE LAB SINCE THE FALL OF 2019. THE ISOTOPES NEEDED PERMISSION FROM BOTH THE STATE AND MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL TO BEGIN THEIR SEASON MLB IS OKAY CAME WITH SOME SIGNIFICANT CHANGES OPENING DAY WAS PUSHED BACK ONE MONTH TO MAY 6TH TO ALLOW MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS MORE TIME TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE COVID-19. AND THE SCHEDULE WAS SLASHED TO 120 GAMES 60 HOME AND 60 AWAY NOW EACH SERIES WILL BE SIX GAMES TO CUT DOWN ON TRAVEL. THE ISOTOPES WILL OPEN AT HOME AGAINST THE SUGAR LAND SKEETERS WITH LIMITED FAN ATTENDANCE. AS LONG AS BERNALILLO COUNTY STAYS OUT OF THE RED MASKS WILL BE REQUIRED AND FANS WILL BE SPACED OUT AT THE BALLPARK. THE TEAM IS WORKING ON THIS TICKET PROCESS STILL TO COME ON CORONAVIRUS IMPACT OUR RECOVERY IN NEW MEXICO HUGGING A LOVED ONE SOMETHING WE’VE TAKEN FOR GRANTED UNTIL NOW AFTER A YEAR ON THE FRONT LINES A LOCAL FAMILY IS FINALLY ABLE TO THEIR MOTHER IN PERSON FAMILIES ALL OVER OUR STATE HAVE BEEN PHYSICALLY SEPARATED BY THE VIRUS IN ORDER TO PROTECT EACH OTHER A VISITING EACH OTHER THROUGH BARRIERS AT LIVING FACILITIES OR BY USING TECHNOLOGY, BUT NOW AS VACCINATIONS INCREASE ONE FAMILY IS SHOWING US THERE IS HOPE TO RECONNECT IN PERSON. WE’RE ALL DOING SELFIE. MEET LENA JAY WAS SUPPOSED TO BE CINDERELLA DAY AND THEIR MOM TESS LIKE MANY OF YOU THE LAST YEAR HAS BEEN TOUGH BECAUSE SO MANY THINGS HAPPENED LAST JANUARY TESS WAS HOSPITALIZED WITH PNEUMONIA SHORTLY AFTER BEING RELEASED COVID HIT AND I DID HAVE TO BE ON OXYGEN. FOR AND SO THE IDEA THAT THIS COVID WAS SOMETHING THAT COULD REALLY HURT YOUR LUNGS YOUR BREATHING MECHANISM. THAT WAS SCARY TESS LIVES IN A RETIREMENT FACILITY AND HER DAUGHTER’S BOTH WORK IN HEALTHCARE AND BRINGING HER HOME. HONESTLY WOULD HAVE COMPROMISED HER MORE BECAUSE OF OUR EXPOSURE. IT WAS VERY NERVE WRACKING NOT TO BE ABLE TO EYEBALL HER IN PERSON FOR INSTANCE FOR SIGNS OF ILLNESS KEEPING PHYSICALLY DISTANCE WAS TOUGH FOR THE FAMILY. BUT THEY FOUND WAYS TO LOOK AFTER THEIR MOTHER. WE WENT AND HAD LUNCH TOGETHER UNDER HER BALCONY. WE WERE IN A PARADE AND DECORATED CARS AND DROVE THEM TO HER FACILITY FOR HER TO SEE US AND TESTS LEARN SOME NEW SKILLS WHAT YOU SEE IS WHAT YOU GET AND WE ZOOMED A LOT AS A AS A FAMILY. WE HAD ZOOM MEALS TOGETHER ZOOM HAPPY HOURS. SHE LEARNED TO DO FACETIME. SHE HEARD US SAY A LOT OF TIMES MOM. YOUR THUMB IS IN THE WAY. AND SHE WOULD BE TELLING A STORY BUT WE ALWAYS SEE IS THE CEILING MOM STILL SOMETHING WAS MISSING AND BEING IN QUARANTINE. NO WASN’T FUN. YOU WANTED TO BE OUT YOU WANTED TO HAVE THE SOCIAL CONTACT NOW FLASH FORWARD A YEAR LATER GOING TO SAINT JAMES T HOUSE. OH VACCINES HAVE BEEN DISTRIBUTED TO HEALTH CARE WORKERS AND MANY SENIORS ALLOWING THIS FAMILY TO REUNITE IN PERSON. WE WENT OUT TO EAT. OH, WOW. THIS IS IT’S LIKE AND WHILE THEY REALIZE THEY ARE FORTUNATE THEY HAVE THIS ADVICE FOR FAMILIES STILL WAITING TO SEE EACH OTHER IN PERSON AGAIN, DON’T LET YOUR GUARD DOWN YET. IT’S FEELING LIKE THINGS ARE EASING UP, BUT IT’S REALLY NOT UNTIL EVERYBODY HAS THEIR SHOT HAVING THAT VACCINE AND BEING ABLE TO BE TOGETHER AGAIN. IT IS WORTH THE WAIT JUST TO SENSE OF MAYBE NOT BEING AFRAID OF A FEELING. THIS WEEKEND TESTS WILL CELEBRATE HER 87TH BIRTHDAY. AND WHILE WE TRIED TO GET THE SCOOP ON ANY KIND OF CELEBRATION HER DAUGHTERS DIDN’T WANT TO SPOIL THE SURPRISE SASHA. WE’VE SEEN THE EMOTIONAL TOOL. THE PANDEMIC HAS TAKEN ON OUR HEALTHCARE WORKERS. WELL NOW WE’RE SEEING THE FUTURE OF THAT INDUSTRY STUDENTS INSPIRED BY THE DEDICATION OF NURSES AND DOCTORS RIGHT NOW THEIR PHOTOS HAVE GONE VIRAL FROM MARKS FROM WEARING FACE MASK FOR HOURS. THE TEARS AFTER SOME OF THE MOST STRESSFUL DAYS OUR HEALTHCARE HEROES HAVE BEEN TESTED PHYSICALLY AND EMOTIONALLY THIS PAST YEAR WORKING WITH THE DOCTORS THE NURSES. I’M ALL OF THE MEDICAL STAFF EVERYBODY THAT’S IN THE HOSPITAL. THEY’RE DRAINED, YOU KNOW, THE HOURS ARE LONG, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE’RE IT’S JUST LIKE PATIENT AFTER PATIENTS. I WAS EXHAUSTED. I FELT BEAT UP. I WAS WORKING ALMOST SEVEN DAYS A WEEK ANYWHERE FROM 8 TO 12 TO 16 HOURS A DAY MEET RANDY GALLEGOS. YOU KIND OF FEEL LIKE YOUR ARE TIED AND THERE’S NOT MUCH. THAT YOU CAN DO AND CHRISTOPHER ROCKLAND. IT’S LIKE A CALL OF DUTY ALMOST LIKE FULFILLING A PURPOSE BOTH FIRST YEAR NURSING STUDENTS IN NEW MEXICO WHO HAVE SEEN THE ROLLERCOASTER RIDE OF THIS PANDEMIC. RANDY WORKING IN THE ER AND CHRISTOPHER WORKING AS A PHLEBOTOMIST. I REMEMBER LIKE HALF THE TEAM JUST UP IN QUITTING AND I DON’T KNOW IF MAYBE LIKE MY MINDSET IF I STILL WANT TO BECOME A NURSE IS KIND OF WHAT KEPT ME THERE THIS AS NURSING SCHOOL ADAPTS TO THE VIRUS OUR DIRECTOR OF NURSING THE PROGRAM WAS KIND OF TALKED ABOUT HOW IT’S GOING TO BE A LOT MORE CHALLENGING BECAUSE YOU’RE NOT IN A CLASSROOM GETTING THAT HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE AND SHE’S LIKE A DEDICATION NEEDS TO BE THERE 110 PERCENT EACH DAY SPENT MOTIVATING THEMSELVES A THEY FACE TODAY FOR A BETTER. TOMORROW, DON’T LET IT STOP YOU LIKE FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS. IT’S GONNA TAKE TIME BUT THINGS HAVE GOTTEN BETTER COVID CASES ARE GOING DOWN AND HOSPITALS ARE NOW ALLOWING VISITORS. THIS IS SOMETHING HEALTH LEADERS SAY IS MAKING A VAST DIFFERENCE IT GAVE THEM A SENSE OF RELIEF HAVING AND A RELIEF FROM ISOLATION, ESPECIALLY THE EMOTIONAL TOLL OF HAVING TO MAKE THAT CONNECTION BETWEEN FAMILY AND PATIENT WITHOUT THE FAMILY BEING ABLE TO BE PRESENT WAS JUST AN OVERWHELMING FEELING OF RESPONSIBILITY AND THEY HAD TO TRY AND MAKE THAT CONNECTION WITH IN VERY VERY SEVERE CIRCUMSTANCES. I LOVE TO SEE THE LIGHT OF THE TUNNELS NOW, SO KINDLY FINALLY SEE THAT LIKE WE’RE GETTING NORMAL PATIENTS IN WITH THEIR TOE PAIN OR THEIR ANKLE PAIN. IT’S SUCH A RELIEF BOTH STUDENTS SAY SEEING THE TOLL. PANDEMIC HEAD ON THE MEDICAL FIELD DID NOT TURN THEM AWAY INSTEAD. IT DID JUST THE OPPOSITE YOU WANT TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO OH, YOU KNOW TO BE THERE TO BE ABLE TO DO SOMETHING AND NOT FEEL LIKE YOU’RE JUST STUCK WATCHING IT. I KIND OF JUST HAVE THIS IDEA MY HEAD LIKE I CAN’T CHANGE THE WORLD, BUT I CAN CHANGE LIKE THE CORNER OF THE WORLD. I LIVE IN EVERY STEP EVERY, YOU KNOW, 20,000 STEPS INTO 12-HOUR SHIFT TOTALLY WORTH IT BOTH RANDY AND CHRISTOPHER HAVE AT LEAST ANOTHER YEAR AND A HALF LEFT BEFORE BEFORE GRADUATING FROM NURSING SCHOOL, BUT SAY THAT CAN’T COME SOON ENOUGH OUR NEXT GENERATION OF NURSES READY TO HIT THE GROUND RUNNING TO HELP CHANGE ONE PERSON’S LIFE AT A TIME MANY OF THOSE HEALTH CARE WORKERS ARE NOW SPENDING TIME AT VACCINATION CLINICS. THE EXPERTS SAY GETTING ANY ONE OF THE BRANDS AVAILABLE IS KEY TO STOPPING THIS PANDEMIC PRESIDENT. JOE BIDEN’S ADMINISTRATION HAS PROMISED MORE SUPPLY TO AMERICANS SO THE COUNTRY CAN GET CLOSER TO THAT HERD IMMUNITY LEVEL OF HAVING ABOUT 70% OF THE POPULATION VACCINATED. IT’S A HOPEFUL. LIKE BUT THERE’S MORE WORK TO DO BECAUSE NEW STRAINS OF THE VIRUS ARE IN OUR STATE AND THE COUNTRY. WELL SCIENTISTS WORK TO TACKLE CHALLENGES. WE AS NEW MEXICANS HAVE LEARNED FROM THE EXPERIENCE OF THE LAST YEAR CORONAVIRUS HAS MADE AN IMPACT IN HEALTH EXPERTS SAY WELL LIKELY SEE MORE SLIPS AND SURGES OF THE VIRUS, BUT WE’RE FOCUSED ON RECOVERY THE INFORMATION AND TOOLS NEEDED TO GET OUR STATE AND NEW MEXICANS ECONOMICALLY AND PHYSICALLY HEALTHY. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR CORONAVIRUS IMPACT OUR RECOVERY IN NEW MEXICO. WE LEAVE YOU TONIGHT WITH IMAGES OF HOPE AND HEALING TRIBUTE TO OUR HEALTH CARE HEROE