The New Mexico Department of Health has announced that there are changes to COVID-19 testing options that are available to residents. At the end of last month, Curative notified the state that effective Dec. 28th, they will conclude their COVID-19 testing services nationwide. Therefore, the state will only provide free, at-home testing going forward. According to a news release, “the DOH in coordination with local county and city emergency managers ordered 1 million free at-home tests from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on December 1, to be distributed statewide. City and county emergency managers will distribute the free at-home antigen tests in their respective communities via existing distribution plans that were implemented earlier this year.” In addition, New Mexico residents can still receive mail order free at-home test kits through the Rockefeller Foundation’s Project Act program by visiting online at access covid tests dot org.
Last week, Grant County Masons from the Lodges in the County, with the assistance of some of their wives and other helpers, invited almost 90 Grant County children to shop at Walmart for the Holidays. Each child was allocated $125.00 in funds for clothes. The children were chosen by the local Grant County School nurses as those most in need. This annual event, titled “Clothe A Child”, is sponsored by Grant County Masonic Relief, which is made up of the Mimbres and Silver City Masonic Lodges. Each year the respective Lodges have fundraisers, in combination with donations from their members and others, to support this charitable activity, which is but one of the many ways the Masonic Lodges support the local community.
Silver Consolidated Schools have planned for inclement weather by reminding students and staff to take home their Chromebooks in preparation to work remotely if there is a delay schedule due to por travel conditions. If a snow day is determined by the Superintendent, students and staff will not be expected to work remotely.
