Here’s a look at some local news brought to you by Silver City Radio.

At the time of compiling this report, the New Mexico Department of Health, announced a new total of 124,357 New Mexico COVID-19 confirmed positive cases statewide, an increase of 1,816 new cases. In addition, COVID-19 cases recorded locally are as follows: Grant County has an increase of 27 new cases for a total of 682 positive cases with 240 recovered; Luna County has an increase of 13 new cases for a total of 2,185 positive cases with 1,189 recovered; Hidalgo County has an increase of 4 new cases for a total 215 positive cases with 128 recovered; and Catron County has an increase of one new case for a to 53 positive cases with 14 recovered.

According to the New Mexico Department of Health, 25 counties saw an improved tests positivity rate over the past two weeks. Included in that group are Catron, Grant, Hidalgo, and Luna counties. In addition, Grant County has the lowest positivity rate in the state, with 5.6 percent of tests returning positive as of December 16th. The state threshold for moving to a less restrictive level is 5 percent. Catron and Grant County have some the lowest per-capita case rates with Catron at 30.2 percent per 100,000 and Grant with 34.7 percent per 100,000. The state threshold for moving to a less restrictive level is 8 cases per 100,000 inhabitants during the most recent 2-week period.

The New Mexico Department of Veteran’s Affairs is hosting a live Facebook discussion on suicide prevention awareness tomorrow at 10:00 A.M. DVS Healthcare Division Director, Jemia Warner, and New Mexico VA Health Care System Suicide Prevention Case Manager, Christina Camacho, will discuss services provided for at-risk veterans through the NMVAHCS Suicide Prevention Program. They will also have information about other local and national suicide prevention resources available for at-risk veterans, their families, friends, co-workers, and other support-system members. The discussion can be found at the New Mexico Department of Veterans’ Services Facebook page.

This has been a look at some local news. Thank you for listening to Silver City Radio.