News

December 27, 2021

Omicron Variant: What You Need to Know

CDC is working with state and local public health officials to monitor the spread of Omicron. As of December 20, 2021, Omicron has been detected in most states and territories and is rapidly increasing the proportion of COVID-19 cases it is causing.

CDC has been collaborating with global public health and industry partners to learn about Omicron, as we continue to monitor its course. We don’t yet know how easily it spreads, the severity of illness it causes, or how well available vaccines and medications work against it.

For more guidance on the Omicron variant and how to defend against it, check the CDC website.

December 23, 2021

COVID-19 Emergency Relief and Federal Student Aid

On Dec. 22, 2021, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) extended the student loan payment pause through May 1, 2022.

The pause includes the following relief measures for eligible loans:

a suspension of loan payments
a 0% interest rate
stopped collections on defaulted loans

Visit the website .

December 23, 2021

Emergency Financial Relief for Students, Immigrants, and Workers Left Out

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is exposing what we have always known: our nation’s deep inequities and broken safety-net programs leave millions of people without help or relief. Today, we are seeing the painful reality for those who don’t have the luxuries of paid sick leave, unemployment benefits, or social safety net protections to help them weather this storm.

Find out more at https://missionassetfund.org/

December 23, 2021

COVID-19 Funeral Assistance

FEMA to Help Pay Funeral Costs for COVID-19-related Deaths

In early April, FEMA will begin providing financial assistance for funeral expenses incurred after Jan. 20, 2020 for deaths related to coronavirus (COVID-19) to help ease some of the financial stress and burden caused by the pandemic. The policy was finalized today, and FEMA is now moving rapidly to implement this funeral assistance program nationwide.

To be eligible for COVID-19 funeral assistance, the policy states:

The applicant must be a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national, or qualified alien who incurred funeral expenses after Jan. 20, 2020 for a death attributed to COVID-19.
If multiple individuals contributed toward funeral expenses, they should apply under a single application as applicant and co-applicant. FEMA will also consider documentation from other individuals not listed as the applicant and co-applicant who may have incurred funeral expenses as part of the registration for the deceased individual.
An applicant may apply for multiple deceased individuals.
The COVID-19-related death must have occurred in the United States, including the U.S. territories and the District of Columbia.

§ This assistance is limited to a maximum financial amount of $9,000 per funeral and a maximum of $35,500 per application.

§ Funeral assistance is intended to assist with expenses for funeral services and interment or cremation.

COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Helpline
844-684-6333 | TTY: 800-462-7585

Hours of Operation:
Monday – Friday
9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Eastern Time

In order to apply, the following documentation is required:

An official death certificate that attributes the death to COVID-19 and shows that the death occurred in the U. S. The death certificate must indicate the death “may have been caused by” or “was likely the result of” COVID-19 or COVID-19 like symptoms. Similar phrases that indicate a high likelihood of COVID-19 are considered sufficient attribution.
Funeral expense documents (receipts, funeral home contract, etc.) that include the applicant’s name, the deceased individual’s name, the amount of funeral expenses, and the dates the funeral expenses were incurred.
Proof of funds received from other sources specifically for use toward funeral costs. Funeral assistance may not duplicate benefits received from burial or funeral insurance, financial assistance received from voluntary agencies, federal/state/local/tribal/territorial government programs or agencies, or other sources.

More information regarding this assistance can be found at COVID-19 Funeral Assistance | FEMA.gov

December 22, 2021

The Emergency Broadband Benefit is Transitioning to the Affordable Connectivity Program 3/1/2022

There’s still time to sign up for the Emergency Broadband Benefit!

Congress recently created the Affordable Connectivity Program, a new long-term, $14 billion program, which will replace the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program. This investment in broadband affordability will help ensure we can afford the connections we need for work, school, health care and more for a long time.

Households enrolled in the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program as of 12/31/21 will continue to receive their current monthly benefit until 3/1/22.

What’s Changing?

The maximum monthly benefit will change from $50 per month to $30 per month for households not located on qualifying Tribal lands. The monthly benefit will remain at $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands.
Households have new ways to qualify for the Affordable Connectivity Program such as: receiving WIC benefits or having an income at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.
Households that qualified for the Emergency Broadband Benefit due to a substantial loss of income due to job loss or furlough since February 29, 2020 or by meeting the eligibility criteria for a participating provider’s COVID-19 program will need to requalify for the Affordable Connectivity Program. These households will receive additional details about the steps they need to take from the program administrator (USAC) or their broadband provider, in January 2022, and will be given at least 30 days to respond. They will continue to receive their full EBB benefit until March 1, 2022.

More information about actions current Emergency Broadband Benefit recipients will need to take to continue receiving the Affordable Connectivity Program benefit after the transition period will be available in the coming weeks. The FCC is seeking comment on the changes enacted in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and will be adopting rules for the Affordable Connectivity Program. Please stay tuned for additional updates.

Source: https://www.fcc.gov/broadbandbenefit

December 22, 2021

Silver City Farmer’s Market / Double Up Food Bucks

Silver City Farmers’ Market accepts EBT and Pandemic-EBT cards and offers Double Up Food Bucks to double your SNAP benefits. Use your EBT card and get half off all purchases.

Farmers’ Market is held weekly every Saturday 9 am — 12 pm, at the corner of Pope St. and College Avenue in the old Life Quest parking lot. This market is currently closed for the winter. The 2022 schedule will be released soon.

The Wednesday Market is held weekly every Wednesday from 9am -12:00pm in the Ace Hardware Parking Lot, US 180 at the 32nd St Bypass. This market is currently closed for the winter, and will resume May 2022.

Visit the website.

December 21, 2021

Omicron now 73 percent of new U.S. COVID-19 cases

Omicron has raced ahead of other variants and is now the dominant version of the coronavirus in the U.S., accounting for 73 percent of new infections last week, federal health officials said Monday.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention numbers showed nearly a six-fold increase in omicron’s share of infections in only one week.

In much of the country, it’s even higher. Omicron is responsible for an estimated 90 percent or more of new infections in the New York area, the Southeast, the industrial Midwest and the Pacific Northwest. The national rate suggests that more than 650,000 omicron infections occurred in the U.S. last week.

Since the end of June, the delta variant had been the main version causing U.S. infections. As recently as the end of November, more than 99.5 percent of coronaviruses were delta, according to CDC data.

CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said the new numbers reflect the kind of growth seen in other countries.

“These numbers are stark, but they’re not surprising,” she said.

Scientists in Africa first sounded the alarm about omicron less than a month ago and on Nov. 26, the World Health Organization designated it as a “variant of concern.” The mutant has since shown up in about 90 countries.

Much about the omicron variant remains unknown, including whether it causes more or less severe illness. Early studies suggest the vaccinated will need a booster shot for the best chance at preventing omicron infection but even without the extra dose, vaccination still should offer strong protection against severe illness and death.

“All of us have a date with omicron,” said Dr. Amesh Adalja, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. “If you’re going to interact with society, if you’re going to have any type of life, omicron will be something you encounter, and the best way you can encounter this is to be fully vaccinated.”

Source: https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/omicron-now-73-percent-of-new-u-s-covid-19-cases/article_ed14dd76-45ca-5a65-9f59-f8a099492384.html

December 21, 2021

NM Eviction Moratorium to End, Homelessness Spike Worrisome

Tents and sleeping bags not only make living on the streets more bearable this time of year, they can often mean the difference between life and death.

Homeless shelters in New Mexico are in need of both as the COVID-induced eviction moratorium nears an end and colder temperatures arrive.

Georgia Evans, development associate for the New Mexico Coalition to End Homelessness, said the number of unhoused has been harder to track due to the pandemic, especially because some shelters closed or had limited capacity.

“A lot of homelessness, especially in New Mexico, is not seen,” Evans explained. “It’s people sleeping in their cars or sleeping in different areas every night and not necessarily pitching a tent in a busy, more central area.”

Evans pointed out in Santa Fe, the shelter is seeking funds to purchase clothing and equipment for those experiencing homelessness, while other shelters are accepting warm clothing including coats, hats and gloves.

New Mexico, along with New Jersey and New York, are the only states with a pandemic-related statewide eviction moratorium still in effect, but Evans noted it is scheduled to end in early January.

“And so we’re anticipating that there might be a giant flood of people that do not have housing or will not have housing in the new year,” Evans projected.

To honor those who lost their lives while homeless, annual memorials are held across the U.S. on or near Dec. 21. In New Mexico, some cities are planning virtual memorials, while others will be in-person with social distancing. Evans added it is fitting to hold the memorial on the longest and one of the coldest days of the year.

“To recognize that these people are in our communities, and are important and in relation to the national memorial for homelessness,” Evans emphasized.

The National Homeless Persons Memorial Day has been held on the winter solstice for 30 years.

Source: https://www.publicnewsservice.org/2021-12-07/housing-homelessness/nm-eviction-moratorium-to-end-homelessness-spike-worrisome/a76827-1

December 21, 2021

Online Depression Support Groups by LiveWell

A Free & Confidential Way To Feel Better

Updated December 21, 2021

Are you looking for a confidential online support group because you haven’t been feeling like yourself? If you experience mild to persistent bouts of depression, have tried to hide it from others, or if you have anxiety and feel like you need to isolate yourself from others, the group support setting may be the right solution to feeling better. LiveWell groups don’t require you to speak and the sessions are safe, friendly and supportive.

Many of us feel lonely, worried, sad, hopeless, and many other emotions related to depression during COVID-19, but there are coping strategies we can learn about from online therapy groups such as LiveWell that accessible safely from home. We can feel better and enjoy our lives, so please consider joining a group like this and utilize the resources below.

LiveWell Support Groups do not provide emergency mental health support. If you have been thinking about harming yourself, please call the National Suicide Hotline at 1-800-273-8255, or call 911

No insurance, diagnosis, or registration is required. Participants may attend multiple sessions each week, are introduced on a first-name basis, and everyone in groups commit to confidentiality. All groups are led by trained volunteer peer facilitators from diverse backgrounds with lived experience of depression and recovery.

MONDAYS
10am MST: Seniors Group (Ages 60+)
Zoom meeting ID: 84220817943
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84220817943

This 75-minute support group is led by senior peers. Learn new skills for better managing your moods, reducing symptoms and relapses of depression, and increasing wellbeing. (The same discussion prompt is used in the Monday 6PM strategy group on the same day.)

6:00PM MST: Strategy Group
Zoom meeting ID: 83742396648
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83742396648

This 75-minute support group includes a topic or LiveWell Strategy related discussion, and a brief reflection. Learn new skills for better managing your moods, reducing symptoms and relapses of depression, and for increasing wellbeing.

TUESDAYS
10am MST: Wisdom Group
Zoom meeting ID: 82492232030
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82492232030

In this 60-minute support group, we apply wisdom from diverse sources (such as psychologists, philosophers, poets, and peers) to our own depression treatment and mental health self-care. Led by the founder of the LiveWell Program®.

Special Topic Meetings

Check out our events page for ongoing Tuesday night groups dedicated to various topics related to living well with depression and its related mental health issues, recovery, or personal growth.

WEDNESDAYS
5pm MST: Teens Group
Click Here to join group.

6pm MST: Strategy Group
Zoom meeting ID: 84910834795
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84910834795

This 75-minute support group includes a topic or LiveWell Strategy related discussion, and a brief reflection. Learn new skills for better managing your moods, reducing symptoms and relapses of depression, and for increasing wellbeing.

THURSDAYS

5pm MST: Physicians Group
Click Here to join group.

5pm MST: Co-Occurring (Recovery) Group
Zoom meeting ID: 84341062189
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84341062189

For people with lived experience of depression & substance use or other addictive behaviors only.

Each 60-75 minute support group follows a similar structure: a brief exploration of how one of the ten LiveWell Strategies can benefit our own daily mental health self-care, followed by a relevant group discussion or skill-building activity. Share weekly successes and challenges with supportive peers.

SUNDAYS
9am MST: Strategy Group
Zoom meeting ID: 84197265600
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84197265600

This 75-minute support group includes a topic or LiveWell Strategy related discussion, and a brief reflection. Learn new skills for better managing your moods, reducing symptoms and relapses of depression, and for increasing wellbeing.

Source: https://www.livewell-foundation.org/supportgroups

December 14, 2021

Message from Alicia Edwards, GRMC Board Chair

Preventable Covid-19 hospitalizations are crippling hospitals nationwide and Gila Regional Medical Center (GRMC) is no exception. Hospitals everywhere, including GRMC, are closing ICU’s and other critical services in order to manage the overwhelming number of unvaccinated Covid patients. Right now, New Mexico is operating under crisis standards of care—essentially healthcare rationing–because our state is over 6,000 nurses short. Life is not “back to normal,” and acting like it is is killing people. Take reasonable precautions, wear a mask, get vaccinated.

Source: Alicia Edwards Guest Column in the Silver City Daily Press: Hospital, Community count on you https://silvercitydailypress-nm.newsmemory.com?publink=211db9c63_1345f05