Amid the avalanche of bad news that belligerently inserts itself into your every waking moment, it's time to look for at least one silver lining. And here it is. . .

The number of NM coronavirus cases is now 21. The silver lining? There have been no reported deaths from the virus. Also, we've confirmed with the state that all the cases thus far are rooted in out of state travel and not the feared community spread. Jodi McGinnis Porter is the public information officer with the Department of Health:

We’re working around the clock to be accurate, consistent and expeditious in the information we are reporting. Thus far all of our positive COVID-19 cases are travel related and we have not reached community spread. We’re all in this together and New Mexicans need to stay home, don’t leave unless its absolutely necessary and purchase only what the need at the grocery store. We have a few patients that are hospitalized and the rest are self-isolated at home.

(The number of cases went to 23 Tuesday. A Taos County man in his 50's and a Santa Fe County man in his 40's both tested positive for the virus.)

There are several patients in their 20's and 30s and those, say health experts, are the least susceptible to becoming seriously ill from the virus.

The virus is planted most firmly in Bernalillo County, the state's most populous, with 14 cases or 67 percent of the total. Sandoval, Santa Fe and Socorro counties also have confirmed cases COVID-19

1,270 New Mexicans have been tested for the virus resulting in the aforementioned 21 cases. That's an infection rate of 1.65 percent of those tested. The DOH posts coronavirus updates here.

GETTING FEISTY

President Trump seems to have a hard time getting along with New Mexico's Governors. He never did take to fellow Republican Susna Martinez who held back her affections. Now he's getting a sample of the feistiness of Gov. MLG:

MLG bluntly urged President Trump during a conference call Monday to provide more help for states struggling to expand their testing capacity as the coronavirus sweeps the globe, according to summaries released by her staff and national media reports. The New York Times, which obtained a recording of the call, reported that Lujan Grisham and Washington Gov. Jay Inslee reacted angrily after Trump told a group of governors to try getting respirators and other equipment on their own, rather than waiting for the federal government to fill the growing demand. “If one state doesn’t get the resources and materials they need, the entire nation continues to be at risk,” Lujan Grisham said. 

The Prez got off easy. She could have gone to DC and crashed through his door. Now send those respirators over to the Sunport.

VP Biden says he is going to name a woman as his running mate so predictably MLG is getting some pundit mention, albeit a little far down the list.

BEN RAY QUARANTINE

The US Senate campaign went dark in New Mexico Monday, at least on the Democratic side. US Rep. Ben Ray Lujan came with this bit of an eyebrow raiser:

 Luján. . .announced plans to self-quarantine after a brief interaction with an individual who was at the time asymptomatic but later tested positive for COVID-19. Congressman Luján is exhibiting no symptoms, and health professionals have advised that the congressman is at a low probability for infection. He first learned of the individual's diagnosis Sunday afternoon. Still, out of an abundance of caution for the health and safety of the public, the congressman has chosen to self-quarantine.

In his latest fund-raising letter Lujan is asking for green chile and homemade enchiladas for his long quarantine.

GOP ROSTER

GOP Chair Pearce

The state GOP did a pretty good job of fielding candidates for the 2020 legislative races, reporting:

The Party will have legislative candidates in a record 101 races. The slate includes 47 candidates in 41 Senate races, and 66 candidates in 60 House races; the slate has the most legislative candidates RPNM has had in decades. It includes 46 women, African Americans, Native Americans, Hispanics and foster parents.

Depending on the environment in November the R's just might take back a couple of the many House seats they lost in the 2018 landslide they suffered at the hands of the Dems.

MOODY'S MOOD

The goal of SB72, approved by the Legislature and signed by the Governor, is to put the PERA fund for government employees on the path to covering 100 percent of the fund's future pension liabilities. But that path will be walked for a long, long time.

Even after the reforms, credit rating company Moody's says 100 percent funding is not in the cards for "the foreseeable future." That could mean state employees and the state will continue to be asked to increase contributions to the fund and that some benefits could be trimmed as the cost of living adjustments were this year--if the 100 percent goal is maintained. Moody's, which has been pushing 100 percent funding, rates SB72 a  "credit positive event." Their full take is on page 34 of their report.

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(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2020