Thursday coronavirus updates

ENMU restricting access

Eastern New Mexico University on Thursday night announced plans to restrict public access to campus buildings.

Starting Monday, campus buildings will be open only to ENMU employees and current ENMU students, according to a university news release.

According to the release:S

The Golden Student Success Center (GSSC) will be open only to ENMU employees and current students, including dual enrollment students, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Friday.

The Campus Union (CUB) will be open during the dining hours of 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., with the dining hall providing carryout service to ENMU employees and current students.

The lobby of the campus Post Office will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday

More information is on the university website: enmu.edu/UniversityOperations

Roosevelt County adopts distancing procedures

The Roosevelt County Government Administration, Clerk’s, Assessor’s, Treasurer’s, and Sheriff’s Offices, Planning/Emergency Management, Detention Center and Road will not provide direct in-person services to the public. If the public has business with any of these offices, business will need to be conducted via Email, through the mail or by telephone and/or fax.

Additionally, anybody wishing to apply for or file a marriage license must call to make an appointment.

The Roosevelt County Detention Center is closed to visitors until April 10.

The Roosevelt County Commission has canceled its March 24 meeting.

Governor closes Texas schools

Texas public schools have joined New Mexico in closing due to coronavirus fears.

“By order of Governor (Greg) Abbott, all schools in Texas are closed until April 4,” Farwell Superintendent Colby Waldrop announced Thursday on the school’s website.

“Plans are being developed to continue distance learning with your child for the next two weeks. When we get more information available we will get that out to you.

“There is no doubt in my mind everything will be ok and in the near future we can return to a more normal routine for all of us.”

Abbott on Thursday issued an executive order that temporarily closes schools, prohibits dining-in at bars and restaurants, and limits social gatherings to 10 people.

"When I declared a disaster last Friday, there were 39 cases of Texans who tested positive for COVID-19,” Abbott said at a press conference in Austin. “Today, that number has grown by more than 300%. Today, we have more than 140 people in the state of Texas who have tested positive for COVID-19."

The Fort Worth-Star Telegram Abbott stressed that the mandate is not a shelter-in-place order and that domestic travel will not be restricted.

Seven more COVID-19 cases in NM

SANTA FE — New Mexico state health officials on Wednesday announced seven additional positive tests for COVID-19. That brings the state's total positive tests to 35.

Here's the breakdown by county:

• ​Bernalillo County: 20

​• Sandoval County: 4

​• San Miguel County: 1

​• Santa Fe County: 7

​​​• Socorro County: 2

​• Taos County: 1

Regents to meet telephonically Friday

The Eastern New Mexico University Board of Regents will hold a special telephonic meeting at 9 a.m. Friday to discuss the spring graduation. This will be a telephonic meeting due to the limitations imposed by state and federal governments.

All regents meetings are open to the public, and anybody wishing to attend can contact the ENMU president’s office at 575-562-2121.

The meeting agenda has one item — discussion of postponement or cancellation of the spring commencement ceremonies. The university had announced via email it canceled commencement Tuesday night, but President Jeff Elwell said that email was sent out prematurely.

Graduation ceremonies are scheduled for May 9. The Centers for Disease Control has recommenced canceling any gatherings of 50 or more people through May 10.

Roosevelt General closes cafeteria to public

As a precaution to safeguard its patients, Roosevelt General Hospital's cafe will close its services to the general public.

The move comes in an attempt to abide by a state public health order to limit restaurants to take-out and delivery services. Patients will still have their dietary needs served, and RGH employees are allowed to eat in the cafeteria as it is a designated break room. However, tables will be capped at six people with six feet of distance between tables, and the outdoor patio area is only available through employee badge access.

“At this time, those who accompany patients to the hospital will be permitted to visit the RGH Café,” stated Jeanette Orrantia, RGH's director of marketing, public relations and planning, "but as each day progresses, more adjustments may be made.”