New Mexico’s testing positivity rate has climbed to almost 6.5%, prompting Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham to announce new pandemic restrictions.
“New Mexico has a third less hospital and healthcare capacity per capita than any other state in the country,” Grisham said. “That means we have to get it right. And we have to do everything we can to make sure people can get routine care.”
Effective this upcoming Friday, state-operated museums and historical sites must close their doors and all retail establishments must close by 10 p.m.
Food and drink establishments will be required to complete the state’s Safe Certification Training program by Oct 30 if they want to operate indoor dining at 25% capacity.
Grisham also spoke about the need for businesses who come in contact with the virus to temporarily close.
“If a business records four rapid responses in a 14-day period, that business must close for two full weeks so that we can reset,” Grisham said. “This applies to food and drink establishments, retail establishments, places of lodging and any close contact businesses, as defined in the public health order… I know that this is an area that we all struggle with because we want our restaurants to succeed. It is already incredibly hard. Winter is coming, and 25% occupancy, or limited occupancy, indoors is not a sustainable model economically.”
Restaurants will also be required to keep a log of patrons who dine on site for three weeks as well as consent to spot testing of employees. Grisham is hopeful the new restrictions will be enough to keep the virus under control and that the state will be able to avoid more severe restrictions.
“This is a way for us to minimize the spread and deal with outbreaks. We want to do that so that we don't have wholesale economic disruption,” Grisham said. “We believe this one effort is significant enough that we will be focusing on locations and high-risk communities so that we can get folks back to, the whole state, managing the virus and limiting the spread.”
One large concern remains the capacity of New Mexico hospitals, as 81% of all adult hospital beds are currently occupied. Dr. David Scrase, the cabinet secretary for the Health and Human Services Department, advised people to continue to come into health care facilities.
“We're concerned about the next two weeks,” Scrase said. “This doesn't mean don't go to the hospital if you have a scheduled test or procedure, it just means that for the rest of the time, when you're not seeking medical care, do your best to stay at home…So for the time being, we have room in hospitals, but we're very, very concerned about the next two weeks.”
The governor emphasized these restrictions aren’t about instilling fear, but rather to prepare New Mexico to fight against the virus more effectively. The top priorities, she says, are minimizing both spread and risk.
“We have the opportunity, it's the fourth quarter, the virus doesn't have to win,” Grisham said. “We can win. We can manage it. We can come back down to a 2% positivity rate. And I'm optimistic that through these efforts, working in partnership with our businesses, that we can make these differences as long as New Mexicans support these—by wearing your masks, keeping socially distance and staying home.”
