Na’ Nizhoozhi Center, Inc. was notified by Rehoboth McKinley Christian Hospital on April 7 that someone in the detox facility tested positive for COVID-19. Executive Director Dr. Kevin Foley called county authorities and asked them to test people with whom this person had been in contact.
Foley said RMCHCS decided to take the people still left in the NCI detox center in to the hospital and have them wait for their COVID-19 tests.
At that point, the detox center was cleaned and re-opened at 10:30 pm on the same day. There was no lockdown or quarantine.
David Conejo, CEO of RMCHCS told the Gallup Sun what was happening with the NCI patients at the hospital.
Twenty-two patients were taken in to RMCHCS from NCI April 7. Eight were released to a hotel on April 8. Eight more were scheduled for release on April 9, and the remainder are awaiting lab results.
The shelter program was not affected.
By Beth Blakeman
Associate Editor
