Department of Health Hotline – (855) 600-3453
BY MAIRE O’NEILL
maire@losalamosreporter.com
During her press conference Wednesday, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham asked New Mexicans who believe they have coronavirus to call the New Mexico Department of Health hotline at (855)-600-3453 or their doctor.
The Governor said going physically to see their doctor puts others, including healthcare professionals and their staff at risk. People are advised to stay at home and “self-isolate” if they are exhibiting any of the symptoms of COVID-19. The symptoms include fever, cough or trouble breathing.
The Medical Associates of Northern New Mexico website advises patients with a fever greater than 101 degrees, a cough, recent travel or exposure to someone known to be infected with COVID-19 to call their dedicated line, (505) 257-8322 before going to their clinic.
Dr. Robert McClees, owner of Trinity Urgent Care said he wants the public to be aware of the governor’s recommendation to call the DOH hotline.
Los Alamos Medical Center CEO John Whiteside also asked that people use the state hotline. He told the Los Alamos Reporter that the CDC and the DOH have the up-to-date information and screening questions.
“They are the first step for any concerns. We are all getting our guidance directly from them,” Whiteside said.
The DOH website says if any of the following are true, call the DOH at (505) 827-0006:
- You have fever, cough, or shortness of breath, and in the 14 days before your symptoms started, you visited China, Iran, Italy, South Korea, or were in contact with a person known to have COVID-19
- You do not have fever, cough, or shortness of breath, but you did travel to China, Iran, Italy, or South Korea, in the last 14 days, or were in contact with a person known to have COVID-19
For more information, visit http://cv.nmhealth.org/ or https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html