COVID-19: Vaccine Search, Changes At Hospitals, & Covering Southeastern NM

This week on New Mexico in Focus, correspondent Megan Kamerick talks with researchers at the University of New Mexico who are among hundreds of scientists around the world working to develop a vaccine for the novel coronavirus that has led to the death of more than 57,000 in the United States alone. Senior producer Matt Grubs talks to executives from hospitals in Las Cruces and Portales. Both Mountain View Regional Medical Center and Roosevelt General Hospital are still waiting for a surge of COVID-19 cases, while acknowledging that stay-at-home orders have flattened disease curves. But the coronavirus has changed how both facilities prepare for pandemics going forward. Correspondent Laura Paskus continues with the fourth in her series of interviews with journalists around the state as they cover COVID-19 in their communities. Adrian Hedden, a journalist with the Carlsbad Current-Argus, discusses the consequences of the outbreak in the Carlsbad area. Gene Grant and The Line opinion panel discuss COVID-19 updates, including Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s plan to extend restrictions through May 15. Although her approval rating in a recent poll is at 62%, not everyone views her policies favorably. This includes Mayor Martin Hicks of Grants, who has encouraged others to follow him in defying the governor’s shut-down orders. The Line also looks at school, city, and state budgets that are in trouble as a result of the pandemic.