Governor announces ease in some restrictions; health order extended to May 15

New Mexico's governor announced Thursday she would extend the emergency public health order to May 15 but would ease coronavirus-based restrictions for some businesses and places – including state parks – starting Friday.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham during an afternoon briefing announced the lessening of these restrictions Friday as part of a “preparation phase” in reopening the state:

– Non-essential business with curbside or delivery services can reopen;

State parks, such as Conchas Lake and Ute Lake, can reopen on a modified day-use-only basis if staffing permits. Camping and visitors centers still will be closed;

– Pet services are permitted to reopen;

– Veterinarian clinics can reopen;

– Golf courses are allowed to reopen for golf playing only. Dining in or retail sales at courses are not permitted;

– Gun stores can reopen by appointment only.

The stay-at-home order remains in effect through May 15. Restaurants and bars still can operate only on a curbside or delivery basis. Malls, gymnasiums, theaters and casinos will remain closed. The ban on mass gatherings is still in effect.

If efforts to contain the virus still are working by mid-May, Lujan Grisham said she would announce:

– All retailers would be allowed to reopen at 20% fire-code capacity with COVID-19 safety measures;

– Restaurants would be allowed to reopen at 50% occupancy but with no stool or stand-up service;

– Gyms, hotels, salons and churches would be able to reopen in a limited fashion.

The governor warned she would “take a different course” on reopening if the state was “backsliding” with coronavirus cases.

Lujan Grisham and other Cabinet members during the briefing continued to preach social distancing and wearing of masks in public to curb the spread of the disease and prompt new slackenings of restrictions.

“We have to learn to live in a post-COVID world,” Health Services Secretary Richard Scrase said.

The number of COVID-19 cases in New Mexico rose by 198 overnight to 3,411. Eleven more deaths were reported to bring the number to 123.

Quay County remained at four confirmed cases, with 128 people tested.

The northwest part of the state remains the hardest-hit by the virus. Scrase noted in data the COVID-19 peak for the rest of the state was in early April, while the northwest sector still is rising.

A total of 172 people in the state are hospitalized from the disease. A total of 760 people have recovered.

More than 1 million people in the U.S. have been confirmed with the disease, with more than 62,000 deaths.