Quay in red zone on COVID-19 map

Quay County and 31 other New Mexico counties last week landed in the red zone on the state’s COVID-19 map that would guide economic reopenings in the coming weeks.

Neighboring San Miguel County, however, landed in the yellow zone with a test positivity rate right at the 5% benchmark. Its daily case rate of coronavirus was 32.2 per 100,000 people, above the benchmark of 8 daily cases per 100,000 people.

No counties were in the green zone. The next re-evaluation of New Mexico counties will be Dec. 16.

Los Alamos County, in the yellow zone a few days ago, fell into the red zone.

Quay County had a coronavirus daily rate of 77.4 per 100,000 people and a test-positivity rate of 20.4% — well above both benchmarks. The county had seen more than 160 cases since Nov. 1 — more than half the total since the pandemic began in March.

Based on Quay County’s estimated population, it cannot experience more than nine COVID-19 cases during a two-week period and still meet the daily-rate criteria.

Here are the restrictions for counties in the red zone such as Quay:

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

• Essential retail spaces: 25% of maximum capacity or 75 customers at one time, whichever is smaller;

• Food and drink establishments: No indoor dining allowed and 25% of maximum capacity for outdoor dining; any establishment serving alcohol must close by 9 p.m. nightly;

• Close-contact businesses: 25% of maximum capacity or 10 customers at one time, whichever is smaller;

• Outdoor recreational facilities: 25% of maximum capacity (unless required to have less capacity under the state’s COVID-Safe Practices);

• Close-contact recreational facilities: Remain closed;

• All other businesses: 25% of maximum capacity or 75 customers at one time, whichever is smaller

• Houses of worship: May hold religious services, indoors or outdoors, or provide services through audiovisual means but may not exceed 25% of capacity of any enclosed space on the premises;

• Places of lodging: 40% of maximum occupancy for those that have completed NM Safe Certified training and 25% of maximum occupancy for all others; five guests maximum for vacation rentals;

• Mass gatherings limit: five persons and 10 vehicles.

In the yellow zone, San Miguel County is allowed 25% of indoor-dining capacity with its restaurants and in many other businesses.