Governor announces new COVID-19 restrictions

New Mexico's governor last week announced new health COVID-19 regulations designed to keep businesses open with the hope they soon would flatten record surges of cases in recent weeks.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said she hoped the new rules are “significant enough” to avoid closures and widespread economic disruption as the state heads into the winter. She said New Mexico, which has one-third less hospital capacity than other states, must avoid overwhelming its health systems.

“We're not in a good place right now,” she said of the rise in cases in recent weeks.

The new regulations, which went into effect Friday:

• Food and drink establishments must complete New Mexico Safe Certification training by Oct. 30 to continue 25% indoor capacity. Such employees must consent to spot testing by state Department of Health workers, especially in high-risk counties. Such establishments must keep a logbook of all customers who dine on-site for three weeks to support contract tracing as it's needed. The training is free and offered online.

Food and drink establishments that are not New Mexico Safe Certified as of Oct. 30 may continue to provide outdoor dining at 75% capacity with tables at least 6 feet apart among other required COVID-Safe Practices but may not provide indoor dining.

• The state's Environmental Department said virtually all businesses that have four rapid-response referrals in 14 days would be required to shut down for 14 days. Environmental Secretary James Kenney said 43 businesses were on the agency's watch list.

• All retail businesses must close by 10 p.m. nightly except pharmacies. A similar restriction was imposed earlier this month for restaurants that serve alcohol.

• All state-operated museums and historic sites must close.

Lujan Grisham said the new rules for restaurants and breweries were made in consultation with the New Mexico Restaurant Association and the state's Economic Recovery Council.

“Businesses are not spreading the virus,” she said. “People coming to businesses are spreading the virus and giving it to employees.”

In addition to the usual recommendations to slow the virus, the governor urged residents to make no more than three errands per day and go alone during shopping trips.

Lujan Grisham attributed the rise in cases to residents who “let their guard down” against the virus.

Human Services Secretary David Scrase said Albuquerque hospitals getting especially full. He said he is concerned about the next two weeks for many of the state's health systems.

He said New Mexico had the worst spread rate in the U.S. at 1.27, well above the gating criteria of 1.05. The state's seven-day rolling average of cases surpassed 600, way above the gating criteria of 168. The seven-day test-positivity rate rose to 6.5% which has nearly doubled since Oct. 1.

Kenney said his agency conducted 832 rapid responses from Oct. 12 to Oct. 18, compared to 611 the previous week and just 128 rapid responses in early September.

Lujan Grisham made no announcement about schools but acknowledged an increase in in-person classes would be put on hold for now.