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Local Entities Collaborate to Create a COVID-19 Protocol

The Jal Clinic, City of Jal, Jal Police Department, City of Jal Fire/EMS, Jal Schools, and Woolworth Library are coordinating efforts to understand and monitor COVID-19 as it develops. These entities met two weeks ago and again on March 19, 2020 together to gather and share information at the local level. The web pages and Facebook pages for each of the above entities are being updated and available for local Jal residents to refer to for information about the COVID-19 virus.

 

Jal Clinic:

Please call the clinic to schedule a visit. We are maintaining our regular Monday – Thursday 8am – 5pm & Friday 8am – 2pm.

COVID-19 Protocol testing:

  1. Patients to be seen should have the following symptoms:
    1. Fever greater than 100.4
    2. Coughing
    3. Shortness of breath
    4. Body aches/chills
    5. Has traveled anywhere out of the state or had visitors from out of state

              **The Jal clinic has limited COVID-19 test kits and those will be reserved for patients that meet the symptoms above. There have been test administered here with one negative result. The remaining test results have yet to be received. It is taken up to a week to receive results back.

  1. Temporary Operational Changes:
    1. Clinic staff have been and will continue to monitor their protocols twice a day based on local observation, Centers for Disease Control (CDC), New Mexico Department of Health (DOH), World Health Organization (WHO)
    2. No childhood immunizations scheduled at this time until further notice.
    3. Flu shots will continue to be administered at curb side
    4. No well visits
    5. Providers will be handling some cases over the phone
    6. All patients will be screened at the entrance of the clinic
    7. Masks will be handed out to those that are presenting with upper respiratory infection
    8. Separating patients in the waiting room (greater than 6 feet apart)
    9. Patients with fever and/or children will be asked to wait in their car until screened by nurse
    10. Nurses are taking prescription refill requests over the phone. Refills will be considered after provider review on per patient basis.
    11. Respiratory patients are instructed how to separate themselves from other patients upon arrival or over the phone.

The Jal Clinic, City of Jal, Jal Police Department, Jal Schools, and Woolworth Library have all undergone thorough cleaning with Germ Blast, a commercial infection control company within the last week. Staff at the clinic have an ongoing and continuing cleaning process prior to each patient arriving and after each patient leaving. The staff is taking every measure and precaution to keep regular patients separated from those exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms. It is the intent of Jal Clinic to provide regular and ongoing health services and patient care to the greatest extent possible. The staff does wish to ask the public to understand that during this ongoing situation there have been and will continue to be changes in our routine operation. The COVID-19 virus presents some unique challenges but the staff and the clinic has every confidence that they can continue to offer health care to the public.

 

City of Jal Police Department & Fire/EMS

The City of Jal Police Department, Police Chief Mauricio Valeriano and Fire Chief Pat Walter with Fire/EMS are also following the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), New Mexico Department of Health (DOH), World Health Organization (WHO), and National Institute of Health (NIH). The police department ask individuals who are wishing to speak with Jal Municipal Court call 575-395-3314. Those needing services of the court can call the number listed or go to www.cityofjal.us to pay fines online. Emergency Medical Services ask that residents finding it necessary to call for those services inform the dispatcher of symptoms and as much detail as possible so that the first responders can dress accordingly. Local EMS has a designated ambulance to respond to respiratory calls and another for routine local and highway calls. Each ambulance and its equipment will be thoroughly cleaned after each call. All of the local volunteers in the EMS and Fire Department have adequate protective equipment in limited supply.

 

City of Jal

The City of Jal Administration offices, Motor Vehicle Department (MVD) and the Convenience Center (dump) will be closed until further notice. Utility payments can be dropped off at the drop box or can be paid online at xpressbillpay.com. We will have staff available to answer phones and answer questions. Residents should not hesitate to contact members of the city administration or staff if the need arises. Please use the following phone contacts below.

Emergency Contacts:

Matt White – City Manager 575-441-5965

Stephen Aldridge – Mayor 575-441-1825

Van Myrick – Public Works 575-441-6926

Joe Cole – Community Service 909-260-3194

Molly Sanchez – City Clerk 575-390-4084

Desiree Lopez – Treasurer 575-640-9115

Mauricio Valeriano – Police Chief 575-652-7517

Pat Walter – Fire Chief 575-441-1990

 

 

Jal Public Schools

At this time the Jal Public schools remain closed. A re-evaluation to open the schools on April 6, 2020 will be made on April 1, 2020. While the schools are closed breakfast and lunches will continue to be served in a grab and go fashion not only to students but to others who are in need of food. School official said, “They could serve up to 300 people a day.” Again, breakfast and lunch will be served in a grab and go fashion.

All extracurricular school activities are also on hold but are being reviewed by state officials. The administration offices continue to be open during regular business hours.

 

Woolworth Senior Center

The Senior Center is currently closed until April 30, 2020 for dine in meals however they will be delivering meals. Please contact Cindy Thompson at 575-395-2245 for delivery.

 

Woolworth Library

The Woolworth Library is closed to the public until further notice. Employees are scheduled to be in the building during regular working hours 7 am – 4pm. As the situation changes the public will be notified when they reopen. For further information please call 575-395-3268.

 

Local residents in Jal can be confident that the local entities listed above are working in a unified manner to keep the community informed on a local level. Please do not hesitate to call any of these local officials for more information. We ask that you understand that it is and will continue to be a very fluid situation.