Restaurants, Gyms and Salons Can Reopen June 1

As New Mexico meets gating criteria statewide, more industries can start up with limited capacity

In so far as a news conference focused on a deadly infectious disease can be cheerful, today's COVID-19 report from Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and other state officials was relatively upbeat.

All of New Mexico has met or is close to meeting established criteria for the next phase of reopening. As such, come June 1 under a modified emergency health order, dine-in restaurants, gyms, barber shops, massage services, tattoo shops and salons can begin offering services, albeit in a limited fashion.

Restaurants offering indoor dining will have to remain at 50% capacity, keep 6 feet of distance between tables and adhere to the so-called COVID-Safe practices established by the state. The other businesses can operate only by appointment at 25% capacity. Indoor malls also can reopen at 25% capacity, but food courts will remain closed.

The state also is giving the go-ahead to drive-in movies and continuing to open state parks, although overnight camping will not be permitted. "I for one am hoping we see a resurgence in drive-in theaters around the state," Grisham said.

Some industries and activities will remain closed, namely ones involving large groups of people, such as movie theaters, concerts and any kind of mass gathering. Bars also will remain closed and both retailers and houses of worship will continue to be limited to 25% capacity, as they have been under the current emergency health order.

COVID-19 Data and Modeling

The decision comes as health officials announced 108 additional positive tests for COVID-19, bringing the statewide total cases thus far to 7,364. As of today, 196 people are hospitalized, 69 on ventilators. The health department has designated 2,684 COVID-19 cases as recovered.*

The state also reported six additional deaths, including the first for Rio Arriba County. A complete listing of new cases, fatalities and statewide cases is available at the end of this article.

While acknowledging the northwest part of the state still has more cases than officials would like "and the rate of positivity is still much higher, particularly in communities of color," the governor said, "all regions are trending exactly where they should for statewide gating criteria. That's incredibly good news." As such, the new June 1 health order will apply to the entire state.

Health and Human Services Secretary David Scrase said the positive news reflects the work people have done to abide by the required mask wearing and social distancing protocols. New Mexico does continue to have a higher percentage of children with COVID-19 than the rest of the US—more than 12% of the cases compared with 3% nationwide—and its first CDC-confirmed case of a multi-system inflammatory syndrome appearing in children that is similar to Kawasaki disease.

In reviewing the state's case fatality records, Scrase also noted that while deaths from COVID-19 are highest in older age groups, it hits across all age groups.

"The average shortening of life for someone who dies from COVID is actually 10 years and that's a long time; it's not just very old people in nursing homes," he said.

However, the overall picture remains positive: New Mexico is one of just three states (along with New York and New Jersey) identified by the independent covidexitstrategy.org website as trending better for reopening.

"It's good news and it's good news because the people in New Mexico have really cooperated and done the things we're asking you to do to minimize the spread," Scrase said.

The rate of spread continues to be an important criteria in how health officials monitor the state for COVID-19. The targeted effective rate of transmission set by the state is 1.15. As of now, all regions are below that rate, with the exception of the Southwest region, which is at 1.16. Health officials have said they were keeping an eye on the area due to rising cases, but Scrase said "things do seem to be easing up…we think everyone is doing well."

Testing

Testing also will continue to be an important facet of the state's COVID-19 strategy, with heightened measures as more businesses open up. Health Secretary Kathy Kunkel said the health department has initiated a new rapid response program for workplaces when an employee tests positive. Starting Monday, she said, the department also will begin what she described as "an ambitious surveillance" program "to get ahead of the virus." This will involve increased focus on specific settings—some already under surveillance, others new—including: corrections facilities; tribal populations; long term care facilities; special populations, such as homeless and domestic violence shelters; health care and utility workers; grocery and restaurant employees.

"We are going to be strategically sampling them as our supplies and resources permit," Kunkel said. The state also has new testing partnerships, such as with CVS. As of today, the state has conducted 183,544 tests. People who are sick remain the top priority, she said, but testing also is available for asymptomatic people. The state's testing sites are available here.

Masks and mask contest

Officials also continued to reiterate the importance of wearing masks in public, as specified in the current and future health order. Scrase discussed the known evidence regarding the value of cloth masks for protecting others, versus N95 masks for protecting oneself. All New Mexicans are required to wear cloth masks in public settings; health officials have asked people to refrain from using N95 masks so they are amply available for health care workers.

Speaking of masks, voting began today in the state's Mask Madness competition. You can place one vote for one mask once a day through the end of Wednesday, June 3. The top vote-getters will then be seeded into brackets and New Mexicans will be able to vote for their favorite mask in each match up until a champion is crowned at which time a prize will be awarded to the best mask in New Mexico.

New cases

  • 51 new cases in Bernalillo County
  • 2 new cases in Cibola County
  • 1 new case in Curry County
  • 3 new cases in Doña Ana County
  • 2 new cases in Eddy County
  • 18 new cases in McKinley County
  • 1 new case in Otero County
  • 3 new case in Rio Arriba County
  • 5 new cases in Sandoval County
  • 19 new cases in San Juan County
  • 1 new case in Santa Fe County
  • 1 new case in Socorro County
  • 1 new case among individuals held by federal agencies at the Otero County Prison Facility

New fatalities

  • A male in his 80s from Bernalillo County who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions.
  • A female in her 70s from McKinley County who was hospitalized, had underlying conditions and was a resident of Red Rocks Care Center in Gallup.
  • A male in his 20s from McKinley County who was hospitalized.
  • A male in his 50s from McKinley County who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions.
  • A male in his 70s from Rio Arriba County who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions.
  • A female in her 60s from San Juan County who had underlying conditions.

Congregate living facilities

The Department of Health has identified at least one positive COVID-19 case in residents and/or staff in the past 28 days at the following facilities:
  • Advanced Health Care of Albuquerque in Albuquerque
  • Avamere Rehab at Fiesta Park in Albuquerque
  • Aztec Health Care in Aztec
  • Bear Canyon Nursing and Rehab Center in Albuquerque
  • Beehive Homes in Farmington
  • Belen Meadows in Belen
  • Bonney Family Home in Gallup
  • Casa De Oro Center in Las Cruces
  • Casa Del Sol Center in Las Cruces
  • Casa Maria Health Care Center in Roswell
  • Cedar Ridge Inn in Farmington
  • Central Desert Behavioral Health in Albuquerque
  • Clayton Nursing and Rehab in Clayton
  • Dungarvin New Mexico, LLC in Gallup
  • Good Samaritan Society in Grants
  • Heartland Continuing Care Center in Portales
  • La Vida Llena in Albuquerque
  • Legacy Santa Fe in Santa Fe
  • Life Care Center of Farmington in Farmington
  • Little Sisters of the Poor in Gallup
  • McKinley Care Center in Gallup
  • MorningStar Assisted Living & Memory Care of Santa Fe in Santa Fe
  • Pacifica Senior Living Center Santa Fe in Santa Fe
  • Prime Care Assisted Living in Albuquerque
  • Red Rocks Care Center in Gallup
  • Retirement Ranches, Inc. in Clovis
  • Robin House Assisted Living Center in Albuquerque
  • Sandia Ridge Center in Albuquerque
  • San Juan Center in Farmington
  • Spanish Trails Rehabilitation Suites in Albuquerque
  • Sundance Care Home in Gallup
  • Tohatchi Area Opportunity Services (TAOS) in Tohatchi
  • Uptown Genesis in Albuquerque
  • The Village at Alameda in Albuquerque
  • The Village at Northrise in Las Cruces
  • Wellbrook Transitional Rehabilitation Center in Farmington

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Statewide cases

Per a state news release, the statewide totals have been adjusted for the following errors. Previously reported numbers included four cases that have been determined to be out-of-state residents: two in Bernalillo County, one in McKinley County, one in San Juan County. Previously reported numbers did not include eight cases that were thought to be out-of-state residents that have since been identified as New Mexico residents and have been added: two in Bernalillo County, four in McKinley County and two in San Juan County. County totals are subject to change upon further investigation and determination of residency of individuals positive for COVID-19.
Bernalillo County: 1,434
Catron County: 2
Chaves County: 42
Cibola County: 136
Colfax County: 5
Curry County: 51
Doña Ana County: 442
Eddy County: 21
Grant County: 15
Guadalupe County: 20
Harding County: 1
Hidalgo County: 1
Lea County: 24
Lincoln County: 2
Los Alamos County: 6
Luna County: 7
McKinley County: 2,291
Otero County: 18
Quay County: 5
Rio Arriba County: 41
Roosevelt County: 37
Sandoval County: 556
San Juan County: 1,662
San Miguel County: 14
Santa Fe County: 138
Sierra County: 1
Socorro County: 50
Taos County: 24
Torrance County: 33
Union County: 3
Valencia County: 73

Cases among people held in federal custody

  • Cibola County Correctional Center: 2
  • Otero County Prison Facility: 55
  • Otero County Processing Center: 92
  • Torrance County Detention Facility: 17

Cases among people held by the New Mexico Corrections Department

  • Central New Mexico Correctional Facility in Valencia County: 1
  • Otero County Prison Facility: 42

*Per the health department, hospitalization figures include people who were tested elsewhere but are hospitalized in New Mexico, but don't include people who were tested here but are hospitalized out of state.

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