Public health orders extended through August
SANTA FE (KSMX)- Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham along with state health officials announced, the public health orders restricting mass gatherings and occupancy restrictions for businesses and houses of worship will remain in place throughout the month of August.
Masks remain a requirement in all public places as well.
The public health order extension prohibits indoor dining at restaurants and breweries. Both restaurants and breweries may operate outdoor seating at 50 percent of the maximum occupancy as determined by fire code. Restaurants may continue to operate carry out, pickup and delivery services. Breweries may continue to operate curbside pickup services.
Additionally, gyms and other close contact businesses like tattoo shops and salons will still be limited to 25 percent of the maximum occupancy as determined by the fire code.
Lujan Grisham stated that the priorities for the month of August centers around the reduction of spread rate/positivity rate, expanding testing and tracing efforts and improving testing response and ensuring COVID-Safe practices for individuals and business (face-covering adherence). She also stated that with the 14-day quarantine health mandate for all those who travel to New Mexico, will be revised after further research.
In the last press conference, officials stated that additional time was needed to assure students, families and educators would be safe as they returned to school. The hope is that come September 8, there will be a phase-in hybrid model that would allow students to return to campus starting with the youngest students, followed by middle school then high school.
The goal is to get to full reentry for all students as soon as it is safe to do so.