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Framework allows counties to reopen more when they meet key health measures
SANTA FE – In an effort designed to provide local communities with the flexibility to carry out more day-to-day activities, the state of New Mexico will transition on Dec. 2 to a multi-tiered COVID-19 risk system, county by county, allowing local communities to lift heavy restrictions as soon as public health data shows the virus is receding within their borders.
The change as part of the state’s “reopening” will come after a two-week “reset” period, during which state health officials adopted the highest level of public health restrictions statewide at places of business and daily activities in an effort to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 throughout New Mexico.
“The county-by-county framework allows counties, as well as businesses and nonprofits located within their borders, to operate with fewer restrictions as they slow the spread of the virus and reduce positivity rates.” tests, ”Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham said. “It was a difficult year and a particularly difficult month. We must remain as vigilant as ever to contain and defeat the virus; we must also look for ways to ease the burden on our communities as much as possible, without ever deviating from our top priority: protecting New Mexicans and saving lives.
An amended emergency public health ordinance, installing the new framework with an effective date of Wednesday, December 2, can be found here.
The state’s two-week “reset” operational requirements will be in effect until December 2.
The spread of COVID-19 remains a statewide emergency. Hospitals and health care providers across New Mexico have reported great pressure to respond to escalating disease and death caused by the continued spread of the virus.
The county-by-county framework will allow counties – and businesses and nonprofits located within their borders – to operate under less restrictive public health measures when health parameters demonstrate the extent of the spread of the disease. viruses and testing for positivity in these counties are respected.
In order to prevent and mitigate the effects of the spread of the virus, and to improve the resulting excruciating pressure on the health system and government personnel, counties where the virus is most prevalent will operate under more restrictive public health measures. Likewise, counties where the virus has been or is suppressed will operate under less restrictive measures.
Counties will operate under one of three levels: red, which means very high risk; Yellow, signifying high risk; and Green, signifying medium risk.
The New Mexico Department of Health maintains an official map displaying each county’s current level on its designated COVID-19 webpage, cv.nmhealth.org. To capture an average over a period of time that accurately conveys the status of the spread of the virus in each county, the agency updates this map every other Wednesday.
When a county fails to meet the specified parameters for a given level during the bi-monthly map update, it will start operating at the next most restrictive level within 48 hours. When a county meets the specific parameters for a less restrictive level, the county can begin operating at that level of restrictions immediately upon the effect of the bi-weekly map update by the county.
The two key health metrics that will be used to determine where a county falls within the tiered framework are identified in the state monitoring criteria, the set of public health data points tracked and measured by the government. state medical advisory team and others: per capita incidence of new COVID-19 cases and mean COVID-19 test positivity over a statistically significant period of time. These are also the same metrics the state used to rank counties to assess the level of risk of limited reopening of public schools and limited visits to nursing homes.
As of Monday, November 30, 32 of the state’s 33 counties are at the red level. At this level, almost any category of business or non-profit entity can operate – but with limited capacity and reduced operations, due to the very high risk of virus spread.
The map will be updated on Wednesday December 2 and every other Wednesday thereafter.
The public health requirements for each level – and reminders on definitions of companies and other entities under the state’s public health emergency order – are attached to this press release and available at address cv.nmhealth.org/redtogreen.
NOTE: The state’s announcement of the tiered system on Friday Nov. 27 identified gyms as “businesses in close contact.” In the Emergency Public Health Ordinance, attached to this press release, gyms are reclassified as a catch-all for businesses not identified elsewhere in the public health order, which means that at the red level , they can operate up to 25 percent maximum occupancy or 75 people at a time, whichever is smaller.
“Nothing about this virus has changed,” Governor Lujan Grisham said. “And what we can all do to fight it – and to help members of our local communities avoid infection and resume safer daily activities – has not changed either. Avoid gatherings. Wear a face mask. Avoid spending time with non-household members. Stay home whenever you can. They are the best, and indeed our only tools, as we seek to prevent and minimize the disease, suffering and death that many of our neighbors in this state continue to struggle with.
Regardless of a county level, the following requirements remain in place statewide:
- Masks must be worn in public.
- Companies that record a significant number of positive COVID-19 cases among their staff within two weeks are subject to a temporary shutdown by the Department of Health.
- A core business may be permitted to continue operating if the Department of Health and Environment determines that the business is a necessary provider of goods or services to the community in light of geographic considerations.
- Companies that test every employee every two weeks and regularly provide contact training data to the environment department will not be subject to closure in this context.
- This only applies to food and beverage establishments; companies in close contact; accommodation places; retail spaces; and other businesses that members of the public visit regularly.
- The close process is triggered if four or more quick responses occur within a 14 day period.
- Businesses and nonprofits should adhere to the state’s COVID security practices.
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