Citing progress on key criteria, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Wednesday announced she would ease some restrictions that have been in place to fight the spread of the Covid-19 virus.
Under an amended public health order that takes effect Saturday, anyone in public must wear a face covering, with the exceptions of eating, drinking and exercising.
The "slight re-opening" of the economy does not apply to businesses in San Juan, McKinley and Cibola counties.
Also, it does not apply to salons, barbers, gyms, indoor malls and other businesses, which will have to wait until June 1 at the earliest before some restrictions can be eased.
As will restaurants, which still won't be able to allow in-person dining under the amended public health order.
Lujan Grisham and state officials made the announcement during a news conference Wednesday afternoon. Specifically, the order states:
* Large retailers — big box stores, grocery stores — outside the northwest portion of the state may operate at 20% of capacity, dictated by the fire code regulations. Smaller retailers can operate at 25% of capacity. All retail employees must wear face coverings, maintain strict cleaning and sanitation regimens and follow all state-prescribed safe practices.
* Houses of worship can open at 10% of occupancy.
* Non-essential businesses — office spaces, call centers — may operate at 25% of pre-crisis staffing levels. Employers should continue work-from-home policies wherever possible.
* Some summer youth programs and sports programs will be allowed to resume with limitations and restrictions on child to adult ratios, geographies and types of activities.
Some businesses in San Juan, McKinley and Cibola counties will see some restrictions eased, similar to what happened elsewhere in the state a couple of weeks ago:
* Non-essential retailers there can now provide curbside pickup and delivery for consumers.
* Pet services and veterinarians are permitted to operate.
* Golf courses are allowed to open, but only for golf. No indoor retail or dine-in food service is allowed.
By June 1, Lujan Grisham hopes the state's salons, barbers, gyms, indoor malls and other businesses can begin to open for business, and restaurants can allow in-person dining with limited occupancy.
The governor stressed that the easing of restrictions is not an invitation to return to normal activities, that staying at home remains imperative, gathering in groups remains prohibited, and that physical distance from others in public must be maintained.
The four criteria the state has been considering for relaxing restrictions include the rate at which the virus spreads, the ability to test at high volumes, tracking the contacts that people have had with those who have tested positive for Covid-19 and health care capacity.
The state has screened 115,011 total tests, which is less than Lujan Grisham wants, but a number that puts New Mexico at the forefront of testing rates across the country.
The state continues to expand testing. On Monday, the state implemented open testing, meaning anyone can receive a test whether or not they have exhibited symptoms.
The amended public health order that takes effect Saturday comes as a continuation of the original emergency public health order issued on March 11.
That date — some nine weeks ago — was when New Mexico announced that four people in Socorro, Bernalillo and Santa Fe counties were the first to test positive for Covid-19.
Since then, more than 5,300 people have tested positive for Covid-19, 231 people have died from the virus and more than 115,000 have been tested.
Positive cases continue to surge in the northwest part of the state, including on the Navajo Nation.
McKinley and San Juan counties are among the hardest hit in the state. The rate of positive cases in McKinley County exceeds 2,000 cases per 100,000 people as of Wednesday morning. In San Juan County, the rate of positive cases is nearly 920 cases per 100,000 people as of Wednesday morning.
After allowing "non-essential" retail businesses to reopen for curbside and delivery service where allowed by their license, the state set a goal of allowing restaurants to open at 50 percent capacity and relaxing some other business restrictions by May 15, dependent on slowing the virus' spread.
On Tuesday, Lujan Grisham joined a call with New Mexico Restaurant Association members who were eager for a timeline and conditions for re-opening and allowing in-person dining.
The call, announced in the organization's daily newsletter and confirmed by Lujan Grisham's office, was limited to association members.
According to a Santa Fe New Mexican report, the governor declined to provide a specific reopening date for the some 500 restaurant leaders on the call.
New Mexico restaurants have been limited to takeout order and delivery service since March 18 because of state restrictions put into place to fight against the Covid-19 virus.
Some are proceeding cautiously, watching to see how the number of positive Covid-19 cases changes in the weeks after others open before deciding when they want to reopen.
Restrictions on businesses have affected tens of thousands of New Mexico residents employed in hospitality and food service through lost hours and wages or jobs. About 61% of New Mexico Restaurant Association members that responded to a survey said sales declined. One estimate put April's sales losses at more than $230 million.
This developing story has been updated.
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