Gene Grant invited me, TheFatLadySings, of Rosie the Respirators, and Emma Landry of the Merry Mask Makers of Albuquerque, NM to talk about community mask-making efforts on New Mexico In Focus. It was a fun discussion.
And as we talked, personal protective equipment radiated out from Española like a virus! Well, maybe not as efficiently as this virus. But our PPEs did indeed spread!
I talked about the difficulties we face trying to make a variety of different masks for different purposes in peoples’ homes from whatever materials we can scrounge. Because supplies are limited, we are targeting masks for maximum impact: we are sewing N-95s from surgical wrap and 3-D printing them for medical personnel most at risk of catching the novel coronavirus; and we are sewing 100% cotton masks for people most at risk of spreading it.
The US death toll (42,514) surpassed the actual population of Rio Arriba County (38,921) over the weekend. We are very concerned about grocery workers, first responders and others who come into contact with large numbers of people, and last week went to stores in our community handing out masks to the workers.
Only Walmart refused the masks. An employee informed me that they were not allowed to buy cleaning supplies or masks, or to wear the masks. One of my staff members tried numerous times to contact management at Walmart. They repeatedly told her they were in a meeting and would call back later. They didn’t. On the third attempt, management told her they’d call “corporate” and get back to her and of course, didn’t.
I discussed my concerns about their unwillingness to help our community to social distance daily last week on KDCE radio during my corona virus updates at 7:30 am just after the news.
And I called our local paper, The Rio Grande Sun, who investigated and wrote a story about it in an article entitled Mask-Making Group Offers Help to Retail Workers. Walmart didn’t return the reporter, Molly Montgomery’s calls either.
I was gratified this morning when, as I launched into my daily Walmart rant, Jeff Sargent, the Public Safety Chief for the City of Española texted: “I went in this morning and the employees at Walmart were wearing surgical masks. City of Española is increasing patrols of big box stores to promote social distancing.” He told me they are driving through the parking lots with their lights flashing.
I was happy to hear it.
We have given several hundred cloth masks to Presbyterian Española Hospital to distribute to patients who have been tested for Covid-19 and are awaiting results. The cloth masks don’t protect against catching the virus, but they can protect against spread.
We gave masks, gowns and face shields to the Rio Arriba Public Health Office and as of this week, they will be testing by appointment Mondays from 10 to 12 and Wednesdays from 9-11. Anyone wanting a test from the office, located in the Rio Arriba Health Commons should call (505) 753-2794. The hospital continues to test Monday through Friday from 1-5 at the old Emergency Room. Call in advance at (505) 753-7111 for screening and appointment. If you get tested, they’ll hand you a “Rosie” mask.
Christopher Madrid, Rio Arriba County’s Economic Development Director, distributed beds located in a defunct nursing home purchased by the county to hospitals throughout rural northern New Mexico including Presbyterian Española Hospital, Taos Holy Cross, and Rehoboth McKinley Christian Health Services in Gallup, serving the Navajo Nation and some of the western pueblos who have been hardest hit. The bed shipment, which leaves tomorrow, will include 100 gowns, masks and face shields made by the Rosies!
Finally, we are encouraging the general public to peruse YouTube for ways to make their own masks using bandanas and rubber bands, or other items they can find in their homes. Everyone can pitch in! Here’s a Youtube vid: