GALLUP - Medical doctors from the Gallup-McKinley County area met virtually with Gallup-McKinley County Chamber of Commerce CEO Bill Lee April 28 to address local concerns surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.

The session, called “COVID-19: The Local Doctors’ Perspective,” was hosted on Zoom, an online conference meeting space, and broadcast on Facebook live.

Lee moderated the one-hour question-and-answer event, asking the doctors COVID-19-related questions.

The doctors in attendance were Dr. Jennie Wei from the Gallup Indian Medical Center, Dr. Valory Wangler of Rehoboth McKinley Christian Health Care Services and Dr. Lawrence Andrade of Family Medicine Associates.

The public...

Governor creates Navajo Nation Rapid Response Team

Gallup’s outgoing mayor Jackie McKinney asked for a state of emergency within the City of Gallup April 30. McKinney called on the governor to declare a state of emergency pursuant to “the Riot Control Act” (NMSA 1978  12-10-16 through 12-10-21) within the boundaries of the City of Gallup.

In his letter, McKinney said, “This request is being made as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak in our community, which constitutes an unprecedented health crisis. The virus has caused many deaths, stretched our medical facilities and resources to their capacity, and adversely impacted the welfare of the City of Gallup.  Our community is...

As the country deals with the influx of COVID-19 patients, hospitals have had to find ways to house the patients to receive proper medical care by setting up temporary field hospitals. As of April 28, McKinley County is the hardest hit county in New Mexico with 820 positive tests.

Rehoboth McKinley Christian Health Care Services and Gallup Indian Medical Center have cooperated with the United States Army Corps of Engineers to transform the gymnasium at Miyamura High School into just such a center.

The field hospital is described as a safe and comfortable setting where COVID-19 patients can be isolated and monitored during the pandemic, according to the Gallup Alternate Care Facility...

Some members of the Navajo Nation Council want New Mexico officials to close down package liquor stores in towns bordering the Navajo Reservation.

On April 17, an emergency resolution was filed with the Speaker’s Office asking the council to urge the Governor of New Mexico to use her authority to close liquor stores.

The proposed resolution points out that the tribe has imposed a curfew on travel from 8 pm to 5 am as a way to reduce the spread of COVID-19 on the reservation.

“Navajo Nation residents are not abiding by the curfew in order to travel to stores selling alcoholic beverages,” the resolution stated.

The resolution also emphasizes that an April 6 notice by the...