Coronavirus Pandemic

Mental health experts have seen a dramatic increase in how the pandemic has taken a toll on people's emotional well being, including children. Local mental health officials say it’s imperative to keep checking in with your kids during this time. KSUT’s Sarah Flower has more:

A new program seeks to connect Navajo and Hopi entrepreneurs with micro-loans to help them through the pandemic. It's known as “Kinship Lending” and has helped artists and small businesses.

KSUT's Mark Duggan spoke with Jessica Stago of Change Lab, a Native-owned business resource group that runs the loan program:

Almost half of the states in the U.S. now require wearing face coverings in public spaces to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. While several Colorado municipalities have local mandates, the state still has not implemented any regulations. Sarah Flower reports on Governor Polis's latest update.

Visitors are flocking to Colorado’s public lands. But large crowds can post a risk of spreading COVID-19. KSUT’s Mark Duggan spoke with Joe Lewandowski of Colorado Parks & Wildlife about their efforts to keep visitors safe at state parks. 

Artists find themselves in a unique position during the coronavirus pandemic. Galleries and museums have been shuttered for months, cutting off a large part of the art market. But staying home has also led to a creative outpouring for many artists. People are looking for ways to channel their anxiety and other emotions. Mancos-based blacksmith Alex Bond came up with a way to get small pieces into the hands of art lovers using vending machines.

COVID-19 cases continue to rise in some parts of the country. But in Colorado, new cases and hospitalizations are trending downward. We wanted to know how one area health care organization is handling the pandemic, from preparing for a possible spike in cases to balancing public health with a desire by some to return to normal. KSUT reporter Mark Duggan reached out to Tony Sudduth to find out more. He's the CEO of Southwest Health System and Southwest Memorial Hospital in Cortez.

KSUT’s Sarah Flower spoke with Liane Jollon, from San Juan Basin Public Health for their weekly update, touching on the impacts of COVID-19 on wildfire response.

This week, KSUT Reporter Sarah Flower and San Juan Basin Public Health's Liane Jollon discuss several COVID-related issues. These include: systemic racism from a public health perspective, protest gatherings and face coverings, new public health orders and the great outdoors, regional contact tracing, and preventing further outbreaks. 

The City of Durango is expected to sign a new face covering mandate to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, effective Friday, May 22. KSUT’s Sarah Flower reports:

Every week, Montezuma County resident Rena Wilson drops by the Valley Inn Nursing Home in Mancos. She's there to visit her longtime friend, Mac Neely, who is 99 years old. During the coronavirus pandemic, their visits are separated by a window. Their relationship endures, even during tough times. So far, there have been no COVID-19 cases at Valley Inn, unlike at other assisted living facilities. KSUT Reporter Mark Duggan spoke with Rena Wilson about how she and Mac Neely stay close - even through a pane of glass.