Potential ban of certain alcohol sales also on table

Due to a spike in recent positive cases of COVID-19, the McKinley County Board of Commissioners held an emergency meeting April 13 to discuss establishing a potential curfew to aid in slowing the spread of the illness.

Another factor to slow the spread of cases is potentially banning the sale of alcohol during the curfew, in part due to the concern of inebriated individuals testing positive for COVID-19 and then walking through Gallup with no place to stay and isolate, and thus risking exposing others to the illness.

But, this argument was rebutted during the meeting because county data showed most of the alcohol sales in Gallup...

Two more hotels join the effort to help

Na’ Nihzhoozhi Center Inc. detox center closed its doors April 14 due to an outbreak and the spread of COVID-19 among employees and clients.

The shelter, located in the same building, which holds from 20-30 people, remains open for now.

Gallup City Manager Maryann Ustick says the detox center staff was exposed to a person who was positive for COVID-19. The individual visited the center three separate times and exposed as many as 170 people.

“When they found out, they tested as many people as they could. But they are still looking for others [who were] exposed, but can’t find them,” she said

The NCI staff was tested. Some members are...

The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on hospitals around the globe, which is why they have been looking for support wherever they can get it.

Rehoboth McKinley Christian Healthcare Services is no exception. But they have recently been given support from the state and federal governments to the tune of $12.5 million.

David Conejo, RMCHCS CEO, said April 15 the news of potential support funds first broke at the start of the month and the hospital got more information in the past week.

“We were notified we were going to be able to attain $6 million of advance Medicare monies or payments,” Conejo said.

These funds will cover the amount RMCHCS would have earned through Medicare...

After a weekend where police officers issued over 100 citations to people traveling when it was not necessary, the Navajo Nation announced April 14 there will be 57-hour curfews for the next three weekends.

From 8 pm on April 17 - 5 am on April 20, residents on the Navajo Nation are being told to stay home and not travel anywhere.

Navajo Police will strictly enforce the curfew order by issuing citations to violators that may include a fine up to $1,000 and/or 30 days in jail.

The additional curfews are the latest attempt to slow the spread of positive COVID-19 cases on the reservation, which continue to climb as people continue to travel when it is not needed.

The Navajo Department...