Extend free and accessible community Covid-19 PCR testing for New Mexico
Extend free and accessible community Covid-19 PCR testing for New Mexico
The Issue
Although it has yet to be announced via press release, New Mexico state leadership has made the decision to forego free and accessible PCR testing via remote sites such as Curative state-wide in favor of at-home antigen tests at the end of 2022. Already limited in many rural communities, PCR testing has been free and available to New Mexicans for the last two years of the pandemic. PCR testing has proven to be more effective in detecting new strains of covid-19 variants. Accurate and readily available testing has proven to be effecting in mitigating the spread of covid-19, the long term effects of which are still being studied. In addition, we are in the middle of a "triple-demic" of covid-19-, flu and RSV which threatens the health and well-being of New Mexicans. This appears to be a bad time to discontinue a public health resource for the state of New Mexico.
We are asking that New Mexico State Governor Michelle Lujan-Grisham, New Mexico Department of Health Secretary David Scrase and all state and local leaders work together in extending PCR testing for the state of New Mexico until June of 2023, pending the passing of the flu and allergy season and additional tracing of any new variants. We also request transparency and informed consent in the reduction of services as they relate to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
The state of New Mexico recommends using the CDC community transmission map to determine the level of risk in each area. However, they have reduced testing access as Curative locations, times and dates have been reduced. The state is still not testing waste water. Now they plan to shut down access to Curative PCR testing sites in December with no prior notice. If the community transmission maps rely on reported testing by PCR and that is removed then there will be no accuracy in determining the actual community transmission rates. This is strategic. Please sign this petition urging decision makers in the state of NM to extend PCR testing which is a critical resource.
We demand this on behalf of the most vulnerable of our state and for those that need to remain healthy to provide care.
585
The Issue
Although it has yet to be announced via press release, New Mexico state leadership has made the decision to forego free and accessible PCR testing via remote sites such as Curative state-wide in favor of at-home antigen tests at the end of 2022. Already limited in many rural communities, PCR testing has been free and available to New Mexicans for the last two years of the pandemic. PCR testing has proven to be more effective in detecting new strains of covid-19 variants. Accurate and readily available testing has proven to be effecting in mitigating the spread of covid-19, the long term effects of which are still being studied. In addition, we are in the middle of a "triple-demic" of covid-19-, flu and RSV which threatens the health and well-being of New Mexicans. This appears to be a bad time to discontinue a public health resource for the state of New Mexico.
We are asking that New Mexico State Governor Michelle Lujan-Grisham, New Mexico Department of Health Secretary David Scrase and all state and local leaders work together in extending PCR testing for the state of New Mexico until June of 2023, pending the passing of the flu and allergy season and additional tracing of any new variants. We also request transparency and informed consent in the reduction of services as they relate to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
The state of New Mexico recommends using the CDC community transmission map to determine the level of risk in each area. However, they have reduced testing access as Curative locations, times and dates have been reduced. The state is still not testing waste water. Now they plan to shut down access to Curative PCR testing sites in December with no prior notice. If the community transmission maps rely on reported testing by PCR and that is removed then there will be no accuracy in determining the actual community transmission rates. This is strategic. Please sign this petition urging decision makers in the state of NM to extend PCR testing which is a critical resource.
We demand this on behalf of the most vulnerable of our state and for those that need to remain healthy to provide care.
585
The Decision Makers
Petition created on November 29, 2022