On May 28, Governor Michell Lujan Grisham revised her public orders signalling a new dawn will break on Monday, June 1. After two months of being closed, restaurants, gyms, salons and malls will be allowed to reopen with restrictions. Guests, clientele, shoppers, customers and business employees will be required to comply with social distancing guidelines aimed at limiting the spread of the corona virus.
In making the announcement, the Governor said that people need to continue to wear cloth masks while out in public in order to help keep employees safe from customers who may be infected without showing symptoms. In making the announcement, the Governor had this to say:
“This is really good news. … New Mexicans have worked really hard to respect and protect each other. … As businesses did their part to protect New Mexicans, we have to do our part to protect businesses. ”
All of the new rules will apply throughout the state.
NEW HEALTH ORDERS ANNOUNCED
Each industry allowed to reopen must comply with specific social distancing and safety procedures.
The new public health orders announced are as follows:
Indoor malls, hair and nail salons, barber shops, tattoo parlors and massage services are allowed to re open but at 25% capacity.
Restaurants can offer indoor seating at 50% capacity. Customers can not be served at a bar or counter-top and all tables must be at least 6 feet apart.
Hotels may operate at 50% capacity
Gyms can open at 50%, though group fitness classes aren’t permitted
Drive-in theaters will be allowed to reopen.
More state parks will open, some with capacity limits.
The 14-day quarantine order for air travels will remain in place for airport arrivals, it will be amended to permit some business travelers to come and go more easily.
While business restrictions are being relaxed, the Governor said people should stay home if they’re sick and not patronize businesses that do not follow social distancing guidelines. She also said she hopes the state can gradually relax more business restrictions even before the end of June.
NEW MEXICO RESIDENTS SUCCESSFUL IN FLATTENING THE CURVE
During her press conference, the Governor announced that just 196 coronavirus patients are hospitalized which is a 7% decline from the day before evidencing that state has flattened the curve. However, the Governor announced that 6 more New Mexicans have died, pushing the death toll to 335 with testing confirming 108 new cases of the virus.
According to Human Services Secretary David Scrase, the State has succeeded in reducing the virus spread rate to 1.09. This means each person who is sick infects, on average, 1.09 other people. The goal is to get the number below 1 and that will mean the virus is dying out and the spread halted. Dr. Scrase had this to say:
“We’re seeing improvements all across the state. … The progress gives us some room to safely reopen.”
Scrase and the Govenor urged people to continue to wear cloth masks when out in public with the Governor saying “The virus is not gone. The virus still lives among us.”
It was announced by Dr. Scarse that the state had confirmed its first case of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in a child believed to be related to COVID-19 virus infection. Scrase described the patient as a very young child who is now “doing fairly well.”
WHAT REMAINS THE SAME
Theaters, casinos, museums, zoos, bowling alleys are still ordered closed. Mass gatherings and large events are still prohibited.
Retailers and houses of worship may operate at 25% maximum occupancy.
Bars remain temporarily closed.
Breweries/wineries can do curbside pickup where permitted by license.
Face coverings must be worn at work and in public settings.
Mass gatherings, congregations and large events are prohibited.
CONCLUSION
According to the Governor, the State will continue to track gating criteria and the progress made in fighting the virus before announcing new openings. Virus transmission data and other key gating criteria will determine the timeline for reopening other businesses and venues.