Economic Recovery after COVID-19

On Wednesday, May 13, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham announced updates to the Public Health Order. Below are some of the key takeaways:

What will change come Saturday, May 16:

• All retailers may operate according to COVID-Safe Practices (“CSPs”) at 25 percent fire code occupancy (a “retailer” is any business that sells goods directly to the ultimate consumer or end-users and does not include wholesalers or suppliers, not does it include entertainment venues such as movie theaters, concert halls, or amusement parks);
• Non-essential businesses (other than retailers; such as office spaces, call centers) generally may operate according to CSPs at up to 25 percent of pre-crisis staffing levels. All employees should continue to work from home wherever possible;
• Houses of worship may operate at 10 percent occupancy;
• Additional state parks and certain outdoor recreation guides with COVID-Safe Practices;
• Masks will be required of everyone in public places, with exceptions for eating, drinking and exercising and medical requirements.

*The eased restrictions above do not apply to the Northwest public health region, which includes Cibola, McKinely and San Juan counties.

What will remain the same:

• New Mexicans must remain home except for outings essential for health, safety and welfare, especially elderly and vulnerable individuals. If you must leave home, gatherings of more than five people remain prohibited and 6 feet of physical distance from others must be maintained.
• Large retailers like big-box stores and grocery stores will continue operating at 20 percent capacity as determined by fire code.
• Locations and services where high-intensity contact is unavoidable – such as gyms, salons and dine-in service at restaurants and bars – will remain temporarily closed. Limited in-person operations for those types of businesses could be included in the next modification of the public health order, as soon as early June, depending on New Mexico’s rate of COVID-19 transmission, testing capacity and other gating criteria.
• Other high-intensity contact services that must remain closed include indoor malls, massage and tattoo parlors, theaters, casinos.
• 14-day quarantine order remains in place for out-of-state airport arrivals.
• Vacation rentals prohibited to out-of-state residents.
• Visits to long-term care and other congregate care facilities remain restricted.

COVID-Safe Practices for all retailers

• Adhere to maximum occupancy limits per public health order
• Face coverings for all employees
• Maintain schedule of stringent daily cleaning/sanitizing, including frequent cleaning of high-contact items and surfaces (doors, credit card terminals, counter tops, etc.)
• Establish protocols for contactless pickup and delivery wherever possible

What comes next?
New Mexico is looking at early June for Part II of Phase I in the reopening process. The state will be looking at more high-intensity contact businesses and services such as salons, barbers, gyms, indoor malls, dine-in restaurants – all with limited occupancy and sector-specific CSPs. Part II might also see potential expansions of occupancy limits for hotels.

The ability for the state to move to Part II depends on our ability to meet gating criteria.

For more information on the Public Health Order, including definitions and specifics, click here.

For the latest news from Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, click here.