N.M. elevates all counties to Turquoise

SANTA FE – Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Wednesday authorized the execution of a new statewide public health order that places each of the state’s 33 counties at the least-restrictive Turquoise Level within the state’s color-coded county-by-county risk framework, reflecting significantly decreased risk of viral transmission statewide.

Correspondingly, the New Mexico Department of Health’s updated statewide COVID-19 map places all 33 New Mexico counties at the Turquoise Level as of June 2.

The Department of Health on Tuesday reported only 380 new COVID-19 cases covering a four-day cumulative weekend reporting period (from Saturday, May 29, through Tuesday, June 1) – an average of fewer than 100 cases each day.

Given the state’s vaccination progress, and a continued positive outlook with respect to new virus cases, counties will remain at the Turquoise Level barring exceptional circumstances — such as an unforeseen mass outbreak — for the duration of the state’s use of the color-coded county-by-county system.

The color-coded system will be phased out after 60 percent of the state’s eligible population has completed its vaccination series and two weeks, allowing for the vaccinations to take full effect, have passed.

“We’re almost there,” said Gov. Lujan Grisham. “New Mexicans are making the right choices: Getting vaccinated so we can all safely resume our lives and so our small businesses and economy can roar back to life. Please encourage your friends and family to register if they haven’t already – and keep up the hard work as, all together, we push toward ending the worst of the pandemic.”

Absent the change enacted Wednesday, under the previous framework for evaluating risk for counties, 28 counties would have been operating at the Turquoise Level, and five – De Baca, Guadalupe, Harding, Roosevelt and Torrance – would have moved back to operating at the Yellow Level. The state will continue to closely monitor vaccination rates in those counties and work with local officials however possible to boost vaccinations.

After 60 percent of eligible New Mexicans have been fully vaccinated, the state will graduate out of the color-coded county risk system and remove most pandemic-related restrictions on commercial activities.

The state will remove the color-coded risk system two weeks after the 60 percent threshold is reached, allowing for the vaccinations to take full effect.

New Mexicans may schedule their COVID-19 vaccination at vaccineNM.org.

New Mexicans are eligible to win prizes, including up to $5 million, through the Vax 2 the Max Sweepstakes; vaccinated New Mexicans may opt in to the sweepstakes at vax2themaxnm.org.

New Mexicans who are fully vaccinated may as of last month opt to set aside their facemasks in most environments, per updated CDC guidance. Unvaccinated New Mexicans are required to retain their facemasks in public spaces – and should seek out their vaccination immediately. Regardless of vaccination status, New Mexicans must adhere to local and commercial requirements regarding facemasks. And New Mexicans are encouraged to continue adhering to COVID-safe practices.

All individuals, including those who are fully vaccinated, should continue to wear well-fitted masks where required by localities, tribal entities and individual businesses.

Thirty-two counties were operating at the Turquoise Level as of the last biweekly map update on May 19.

TURQUOISE LEVEL:

Essential businesses (non-retail): No capacity restrictions but operations must be limited to only those absolutely necessary to carry out essential functions

Essential retail spaces: 75% of maximum capacity for indoor spaces and 100% outdoor

Food and drink establishments (if NM Safe Certified): 75% of maximum capacity for indoor dining; 75% of maximum capacity for outdoor dining

Close-contact businesses: 75% of maximum capacity; no restrictions on outdoor spaces

Large entertainment venues: 33% of maximum capacity for any indoor/enclosed space on premises; 75% of any outdoor space on premises

Recreational facilities: 50% of maximum capacity of any indoor/enclosed space on the premises; 75% of any outdoor space on premises

Bars and clubs: 33% of maximum capacity of any indoor/enclosed space on premises; 75% of any outdoor space on premises, where applicable

**All other businesses: 75% of maximum capacity indoors; no restrictions on outdoor spaces

Houses of worship: May operate at 100% capacity indoors or outdoors should they so choose

Places of lodging: No maximum occupancy restrictions for those that have completed NM Safe Certified training; 50% of maximum occupancy for all others; 15 guests maximum for vacation rentals

Mass gatherings limit: 150 persons

Categories and definitions within the public health order:

Essential businesses (non-retail): These are any business or nonprofit entity falling within one or more of the following categories:

• Health care operations including hospitals, walk-in-care health facilities, pharmacies, medical wholesale and distribution, home health care workers or aides for the elderly, emergency dental facilities, nursing homes, residential health care facilities, research facilities, congregate care facilities, intermediate care facilities for those with intellectual or developmental disabilities, supportive living homes, home health care providers, drug and alcohol recovery support services, and medical supplies and equipment manufacturers and providers;
  Homeless shelters, food banks, and other services providing care to indigent or needy populations;
• Childcare facilities;
• Farms, ranches, and other food cultivation, processing, or packaging operations;
• Infrastructure operations including, but not limited to, public works construction, commercial and residential construction and maintenance, self-storage facilities, airport operations, public transportation, airlines, taxis, private transportation providers, transportation network companies, water, gas, electrical, oil drilling, oil refining, natural resources extraction or mining operations, nuclear material research and enrichment, those attendant to the repair and construction of roads and highways, gas stations, solid waste collection and removal, trash and recycling collection, processing and disposal, sewer, data and internet providers, data centers, technology support operations, and telecommunications systems;
• Manufacturing operations involved in food processing, manufacturing agents, chemicals, fertilizer, pharmaceuticals, sanitary products, household paper products, microelectronics/semiconductor, primary metals manufacturers, electrical equipment, appliance, and component manufacturers, and transportation equipment manufacturers;
• Services necessary to maintain the safety and sanitation of residences or essential businesses including security services, towing services, custodial services, plumbers, electricians, and other skilled trades;
• Veterinary and livestock services, animal shelters and facilities providing pet adoption, daycare, or boarding services;
• Media services;
• Utilities, including their contractors, suppliers, and supportive operations, engaged in power generation, fuel supply and transmission, water and wastewater supply;
• Crematoriums, funeral homes and cemeteries;
• Banks, credit unions, insurance providers, payroll services, brokerage services, and investment management firms;
• Businesses providing mailing and shipping services;
• Laboratories and defense and national security-related operations supporting the United States government, a contractor to the United States government, or any federal entity;
• Professional services, such as legal or accounting services, but only where necessary to assist in compliance with legally mandated activities; and
• Logistics, and also businesses that store, transport, or deliver groceries, food, materials, goods or services directly to residences, retailers, government institutions, or essential businesses.

Essential retail spaces: These include grocery stores, supermarkets, food banks, farmers’ markets and vendors who sell food, convenience stores, and other businesses that generate more than one-third of their revenue from the sale of canned food, dry goods, fresh fruits and vegetables, pet food, animal feed or supplies, fresh meats, fish, and poultry, and any other consumable food and drink products; automobile repair facilities, bike repair facilities, and retailers who generate the majority of their revenue from the sale of automobile or bike repair products; hardware stores; laundromats; and dry cleaner services.

Food and drink establishments: These are restaurants, breweries, wineries, distillers, cafes, coffee shops, or other similar establishments that offer food or drink.

Close-contact businesses: These are barbershops, hair salons, tattoo parlors, nail salons, spas, massage therapy services, esthetician clinics and tanning salons.

Recreational facilities: These are any publicly or privately owned facility typically or actually used for recreational activities capable of bringing persons within close proximity of one another, including aquariums, amusement parks, arcades, basketball courts, baseball fields, bowling alleys, botanical gardens, family entertainment centers, football fields, go-kart courses, golf courses, ice-skating rinks, museums with interactive displays or exhibits, miniature golf courses, ski areas, soccer fields, swimming pools, tennis courts, youth programs, guided raft tours, guided balloon tours and zoos.

Bars and clubs: These are any business that typically or actually generates more than half of its revenue from the sale of alcohol for on-premises consumption — including adult entertainment venues, nightclubs, and dance clubs, regardless of the source of their revenue.

Large entertainment venues: These are as any publicly or privately owned venue typically or actually used to host large audiences for the purposes of entertainment or amusement, including racetracks, concert venues, movie theaters, performance venues, professional sports venues and theaters.

Houses of worship: These are any church, synagogue, mosque, or other gathering space where persons congregate to exercise their religious beliefs.

Places of lodging: These are hotels, motels, RV parks, and short-term vacation rentals.

Mass gatherings: These are any public gathering, private gathering, organized event, ceremony, parade, funeral, or any other grouping that brings together a specified number of individuals in a single room or connected space, confined outdoor space, or open outdoor space. “Mass gatherings” also include coordinated events in which individuals gather in vehicles. “Mass gatherings” do not include the presence of any number of individuals where those individuals regularly reside. “Mass gathering” does not include individuals who are public officials or public employees in the course and scope of their employment.

**All other businesses: These are any entities that are not identified explicitly as an “essential business,” “house of worship,” “recreational facility,” “large entertainment venue,” “food and drink establishment,” “bars or clubs” or “place of lodging”.” Examples would include non-essential retail spaces like a clothing store, a gym, a group fitness class or a personal training service, among others.

Please find the above referenced PHO here.