Environment Department files emergency amendment

SANTA FE (KSMX)- The New Mexico Environment Department filed an emergency rule that now requires employers to report positive COVID-19 cases to NMED within four hours of being notified of the case.

The emergency amendment went into effect yesterday and will remain in effect for no more than 120 days, unless the Department proposes and the Environmental Improvement Board adopts a permanent rule prior to the end of the 120-day period. NMED’s Occupational Health and Safety Bureau is frequently notified of positive cases after employers are notified, resulting in delayed rapid responses.

According to the Press release, to date, there have been more than 600 cases where the employer knew of a positive worker before NMED, including more than 280 instances where the employer knew of the case at least three days before NMED.