As the rate of spread of new COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations continues to decrease in New Mexico — for the first time dropping below the statewide benchmarks set as targets for continued re-opening — Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham issued Thursday new public health orders going into effect June 1.
The new statewide orders (including the hard hit northwest region of the state) will allow restaurants to operate closer to full capacity, and allow malls, salons, gyms and other previously restricted businesses to open at limited capacity for the first time since March. All businesses must continue to adhere to the COVID-19 Safe Practices issued by the state for those particular sectors.
The Governor urged New Mexicans to support local businesses — noting that the business community has done their part in sacrificing to keep citizens safe for the last few months — by adhering to masking and social distancing requirements while visiting those businesses.
While Human Services Secretary Dr. David Scrase cautioned that large gatherings of people would continue to be too dangerous for the foreseeable future, he and the Governor both indicated that continued loosening of restrictions on businesses (including movie theaters, museums, and bowling alleys) and public gatherings were possible if the state’s infection rates continued to stay flat or decline further.
You can read the full updated public health orders here, see the slideshow summarizing the changes for businesses here, and read more coverage of the new public health orders in the Albuquerque Journal.