Government of New Mexico Jumps on Coronavirus Presence in New Mexico

Governor Lujan-Grisham Declares Health Emergency

As Three Patients Test Positive in New Mexico

 

In a major development Governor Lujan-Grisham jumped on the news that came out this morning that three New Mexicans have been tested positive for coronavirus.  It appears the state has been working diligently for months to prepare for the presence of coronavirus in the state.  Drive-by swabs to be used for testing are now in place in Gallup, a phone line is in place for concerned citizens, and, while the governor emphasized that the testing capacity for extensive testing is not yet in place, it appears to be coming soon.

The good news is that the three cases were recent travelers, suggesting--but not proving--that the virus is not yet being spread within communities.  Only extensive testing will be able to confirm this, and so far only about 90 persons have been tested for the virus.  It seems likely that as more testing gets under way, more cases will be discovered.  But the system that the Governor laid out this afternoon appears to be well designed, and the precautionary moves the Governor laid out--cancelling large events, cautioning citizens to restrict their circulation within their communities and travel--appear to be light years ahead of the clumsy, politically motivated response of the federal government.