This week's guest on REPORT FROM SANTA FE is Dr. David Scrase, Cabinet Secretary for the New Mexico Department of Human Services, with a new coronavirus update about the welcome downward slope of N.M.’s numbers (cases, deaths, positivity rate of our testing) and the state’s success in meeting much of the gating criteria for slowly reopening.

Scrase urges everyone to respond to the numbers with a “Dimmer Switch” approach (a little up, a little down, depending on the state’s statistics) and not as a simple “ON/OFF switch” (going out in crowds / staying at home).

He also gives advice to elderly New Mexicans, as well as to every New Mexican, for how to continue staying well during this new phase of our pandemic response.

Dr. Scrase and New Mexico were recently featured on CNN where reporter John King praised New Mexico's astonishing 2.4% positivity rate in COVID-19 testing, the lowest in the Continental United States. Dr. Scrase shared credit with Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, Health Secretary Kunkel, and the administration for their strong stance against the virus, and the diligence of New Mexicans to follow health guidelines. King then praised New Mexico for being the "Best in the West" because of our excellent "science. common sense, and leadership!"