PUBLIC HEALTH ORDER

NEW MEXICO DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

CABINET SECRETARY KATHYLEEN M. KUNKEL

MAY 27, 2020

Public Health Emergency Order Clarifying that Current Guidance Documents, Advisories,
and Emergency Public Health Orders Remain in Effect; and Amending the March 23,
2020, April 6, 2020, April 11, April 30, 2020, May 5, 2020, and May 15, 2020, Public Health
Emergency Orders Closing All Businesses and Non-Profit Entities Except for those
Deemed Essential and Providing Additional Restrictions on Mass Gatherings Due to
COVID-19

PREFACE

The purpose of this amended Public Health Emergency Order is to amend restrictions on
mass gatherings and business operations, which were implemented in response to the spread of
the Novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 (“COVID-19”). Continued social distancing and self-
isolation measures are necessary to protect public health given the potentially devasting effects
that could result from a rapid increase in COVID-19 cases in New Mexico. While this Order
loosens some restrictions on mass gatherings and business operations, the core directive
underlying all prior public health initiatives remains intact; all New Mexicans should be
staying in their homes for all but the most essential activities and services. When New
Mexicans are not in their homes, they should strictly adhere to social distancing protocols to
minimize risks. These sacrifices are the best contribution that each of us can individually make
to protect the health and wellbeing of our fellow citizens and the State as a whole. In accordance
with these purposes, this Order and its exceptions should be narrowly construed to encourage
New Mexicans to stay in their homes for all but the most essential activities.

It is hereby ORDERED that:

1. All current guidance documents and advisories issued by the Department of

Health remain in effect.

2. The following Public Health Emergency Orders remain in effect through the
current Public Health Emergency and any subsequent renewals of that Public Health Emergency
or until they are amended of rescinded:

A. March 13, 2020 Public Health Emergency Order to Temporarily Limit

Nursing Home Visitation Due to COVID-19;

B. April 30, 2020 Public Health Emergency Order Modifying Temporary

Restrictions on Non-Essential Health Care Services, Procedures, and
Surgeries;

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY

1190 St. Francis Dr., Suite N4100 • P.O. Box 26110 • Santa Fe, New Mexico • 87502
(505) 827-2613 • FAX: (505) 827-2530 • www.nmhealth.org
 C. March 24, 2020 Public Health Emergency Order Temporarily Regulating
the Sale and Distribution of Personal Protective Equipment Due to
Shortages Caused by COVID-19; and

D. April 30, 2020 Public Health Emergency Order Clarifying that Polling
Places Shall be Open as Required in the Election Code and Imposing
Certain Social Distancing Restrictions on Polling Places

3. The May 5, 2020 Public Health Emergency Order Amending the March 23, 2020,
April 6, 2020, April 11, 2020, April 30, 2020, May 5, 2020, and May 15, 2020 Public Health
Emergency Orders Closing All Businesses and Non-Profit Entities Except for those Deemed
Essential and Providing Additional Restrictions on Mass Gatherings Due to COVID-19 is hereby
amended as follows:

ORDER

WHEREAS, on March 11, 2020, because of the spread of the novel Coronavirus Disease
2019 (“COVID-19”), Michelle Lujan Grisham, the Governor of the State of New Mexico,
declared that a Public Health Emergency exists in New Mexico under the Public Health
Emergency Response Act, and invoked her authority under the All Hazards Emergency
Management Act;

WHEREAS, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has renewed the declaration of a Public
Health Emergency through May 31, 2020;

WHEREAS, COVID-19 continues to spread in New Mexico and nationally. Since,

Executive Order 2020-004 was issued, confirmed COVID-19 infections in New Mexico have
risen to more than 5,500 and confirmed cases in the United States have risen to more than 1.4
million;

WHEREAS, the further spread of COVID-19 in the State of New Mexico poses a threat
to the health, safety, wellbeing and property of the residents in the State due to, among other
things, illness from COVID-19, illness-related absenteeism from employment (particularly
among public safety and law enforcement personnel and persons engaged in activities and
businesses critical to the economy and infrastructure of the State), potential displacement of
persons, and closures of schools or other places of public gathering;

WHEREAS, social distancing is the sole way New Mexicans can minimize the spread of
COVID-19 and currently constitutes the most effective means of mitigating the potentially
devastating impact of this pandemic in New Mexico; and

WHEREAS, the New Mexico Department of Health possesses legal authority pursuant
to the Public Health Act, NMSA 1978, Sections 24-1-1 to -40, the Public Health Emergency
Response Act, NMSA 1978, Sections 12-10A-1 to -10, the Department of Health Act, NMSA
1978, Sections 9-7-1 to -18, and inherent constitutional police powers of the New Mexico state

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government, to preserve and promote public health and safety, to adopt isolation and quarantine,
and to close public places and forbid gatherings of people when deemed necessary by the
Department for the protection of public health.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Kathyleen M. Kunkel, Cabinet Secretary of the New Mexico

Department of Health, in accordance with the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the
Laws of the State of New Mexico, and as directed by the Governor pursuant to the full scope of
her emergency powers under the All Hazard Emergency Management Act, do hereby declare the
current outbreak of COVID-19 a condition of public health importance as defined in the New
Mexico Public Health Act, NMSA 1978, Section 24-1-2(A) as an infection, a disease, a
syndrome, a symptom, an injury or other threat that is identifiable on an individual or community
level and can reasonably be expected to lead to adverse health effects in the community, and that
poses an imminent threat of substantial harm to the population of New Mexico.

The following definitions are adopted for the purposes of this Order:

Definitions: As used in this Public Health Order, the following terms shall have the
meaning given to them, except where the context clearly requires otherwise:

(1) “Essential business” means any business or non-profit entity falling within one or
more of the following categories:

a. Health care operations including hospitals, walk-in-care health facilities,

pharmacies, medical wholesale and distribution, home health care workers
or aides for the elderly, emergency dental facilities, nursing homes,
residential health care facilities, research facilities, congregate care
facilities, intermediate care facilities for those with intellectual or
developmental disabilities, supportive living homes, home health care
providers, drug and alcohol recovery support services, and medical
supplies and equipment manufacturers and providers;

b. Homeless shelters, food banks, and other services providing care to

indigent or needy populations;

c. Childcare facilities necessary to provide services to those workers

employed by essential businesses, essential non-profit entities, and other
operating non-essential businesses;

d. Grocery stores, supermarkets, food banks, farmers’ markets and vendors

who sell food, convenience stores, and other businesses that generate the
majority of their revenue from the sale of canned food, dry goods, fresh
fruits and vegetables, pet food, feed, and other animal supply stores, fresh
meats, fish, and poultry, and any other household consumer products;

e. Farms, ranches, and other food cultivation, processing, or packaging

operations;

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f. All facilities routinely used by law enforcement personnel, first
responders, firefighters, emergency management personnel, and dispatch
operators;

g. Infrastructure operations including, but not limited to, public works

construction, commercial and residential construction and maintenance,
airport operations, public transportation, airlines, taxis, private
transportation providers, transportation network companies, water, gas,
electrical, oil drilling, oil refining, natural resources extraction or mining
operations, nuclear material research and enrichment, those attendant to
the repair and construction of roads and highways, gas stations, solid
waste collection and removal, trash and recycling collection, processing
and disposal, sewer, data and internet providers, data centers, technology
support operations, and telecommunications systems;

h. Manufacturing operations involved in food processing, manufacturing

agents, chemicals, fertilizer, pharmaceuticals, sanitary products, household
paper products, microelectronics/semi-conductor, primary metals
manufacturers, electrical equipment, appliance, and component
manufacturers, and transportation equipment manufacturers;

i. Services necessary to maintain the safety and sanitation of residences or

essential businesses including security services, towing services, custodial
services, plumbers, electricians, and other skilled trades;

j. Veterinary and livestock services, animal shelters, and facilities providing

pet adoption, grooming, daycare, or boarding services;

k. Media services including television, radio, and newspaper operations;

l. Automobile repair facilities, bike repair facilities, and retailers who

generate the majority of their revenue from the sale of automobile or bike
repair products. Contactless car washes, which are those that do not
require person-to-person interaction between customers and employees,
are permitted to operate;

m. Hardware stores and self-storage facilities;

n. Laundromats and dry cleaner services;

o. Utilities, including their contractors, suppliers, and supportive operations,

engaged in power generation, fuel supply and transmission, water and
wastewater supply;

p. Funeral homes, crematoriums and cemeteries;

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 q. Banks, credit unions, insurance providers, payroll services, brokerage
services, and investment management firms;

r. Real estate services including brokers, title companies, and related

services;

s. Businesses providing mailing and shipping services, including post office

boxes;

t. Laboratories and defense and national security-related operations

supporting the United States government, a contractor to the United States
government, or any federal entity;

u. Restaurants, but only for delivery or carry out and local breweries,
wineries, or distillers but only for carry out. Restaurants, but not Bars,
may also offer dine-in service in outdoor seating areas only at up to 50%
of their outdoor area fire code occupancy, if applicable. No dine-in
service may be provided in indoor seating areas. Outdoor dine-in service
may only be provided to patrons who are seated. Tables must be placed
with at least six feet of distance between tables. No more than six patrons
may be seated at any single table. No bar or counter seating is permitted.

v. Professional services, such as legal or accounting services, but only where

necessary to assist in compliance with legally mandated activities; and

w. Logistics, and also businesses that store, transport, or deliver groceries,

food, materials, goods or services directly to residences, retailers,
government institutions, or essential businesses.

(2) “Individuals” means natural persons.

(3) “Gathering” means any grouping together of individuals in a single
connected location.
(4) “Mass gathering” means any public gathering, private gathering,
organized event, ceremony, or other grouping that brings together five (5) or more individuals in
a single room or connected space, confined outdoor space or an open outdoor space. “Mass
gathering” does not include the presence of five (5) or more individuals where those individuals
regularly reside. “Mass gathering” does not include individuals who are public officials or
public employees in the course and scope of their employment.
(5) “Houses of worship” means any church, synagogue, mosque, or other
gathering space where persons congregate to exercise their religious beliefs.
(6) “Close-contact business” includes barbershops, adult entertainment
venues, hair salons, tattoo parlors, nail salons, spas, massage parlors, esthetician clinics, tanning
salons, guided raft tours, guided balloon tours, gyms, and personal training services.
(7) “Recreational facilities” include movie theaters, swimming pools,
museums, bowling alleys, miniature golf, arcades, amusement parks, concert venues,

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performance venues, go-kart courses, indoor shopping malls, and other places of indoor
recreation or indoor entertainment.
(8) “Bars” are defined as food and beverage service establishments that
derived more than 50% of their revenue in the prior calendar year from the sale of alcoholic
beverages.
(8) “COVID-Safe Practices” (“CSP”) are those directives, guidelines, and
recommendations for businesses and other public operations that are set out and memorialized in
the document titled “All Together New Mexico: COVID-Safe Practices for Individuals and
Employers”. That document may be obtained at the following link https://cv.nmhealth.org/covid-
safe-practices/.
(9) “Places of lodging” means all hotels, motels, RV parks, co-located short-
term condominium rentals with a central check-in desk, and short-term vacation rentals.
(10) “Retail space” means any essential business that sells goods or services
directly to consumers or end-users such as grocery stores or hardware stores and includes the
essential businesses identified in the categories above: 1(d), 1(l), 1(m), 1(p), and 1(s).

I HEREBY DIRECT AS FOLLOWS:

(1) Except as provided elsewhere in this Order, all “mass gatherings” are hereby
prohibited under the powers and authority set forth in the Public Health Act.

(2) “Essential businesses” must operate in accordance with the pertinent “COVID-Safe
Practices (CSPs)” section(s) of the “All Together New Mexico: COVID-Safe
Practices for Individuals and Employers”.

(3) “Close-contact businesses” and “recreational facilities” must remain closed.

(4) Any business that is not identified as an “essential business”, a “close-contact

business”, or a “recreational facility” may open provided that the total number of
persons situated within the business does not exceed 25% of the maximum occupancy
of any enclosed space on the business’s premises, as determined by the relevant fire
marshal or fire department. Businesses identified as a “retail space” may operate
provided that the total number of persons situated within the business does not exceed
25% of the maximum occupancy of any enclosed space on the business’s premises, as
determined by the relevant fire marshal or fire department. Any business opening
pursuant to this provision must comply with the pertinent CSP’s set out in the “All
Together New Mexico: COVID-Safe Practices for Individuals and Employers”.

(5) If customers are waiting outside of a business, the business must take reasonable
measures to ensure that customers maintain a distance of at least six-feet from other
individuals and avoid person-to-person contact.

(6) Bars are not permitted to operate other than for take-out and delivery if otherwise
permitted under their applicable licenses.

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(7) “Houses of worship” may hold services and other functions provided that they
comply with the “COVID-Safe Practices (CSPs) for Houses of Worship” section of
the “All Together New Mexico: COVID-Safe Practices for Individuals and
Employers”. Further, “houses of worship” may not exceed 25% of the maximum
occupancy of any enclosed building, as determined by the relevant fire marshal or fire
department. Nothing in this order is intended to preclude these faith-based
institutions from holding services through audiovisual means.

(8) “Places of lodging” shall not operate at more than 25% percent of maximum
occupancy. Health care workers who are engaged in the provision of care to New
Mexico residents or individuals utilizing lodging facilities for extended stays, as
temporary housing, or for purposes of a quarantine or isolation period shall not be
counted for purposes of determining maximum occupancy. Further, short-term
vacation rentals shall limit guests to New Mexico residents only.

(9) Unless a healthcare provider instructs otherwise, all individuals shall wear a mask or
multilayer cloth face covering in public settings except when eating, drinking, or
exercising. Further, all individuals should comply with the “COVID-Safe Practices
(CSPs) for All New Mexicans” section of the “All Together New Mexico: COVID-
Safe Practices for Individuals and Employers”.

(10) All casinos shall close during the pendency of this Order. This directive excludes
those casinos operating on Tribal lands. Horse racing facilities may operate without
spectators.

(11) This Order does not limit animal shelters, zoos, and other facilities with animal care
operations from performing tasks that ensure the health and welfare of animals.
Those tasks should be performed with the minimum number of employees
necessary, for the minimum amount of time necessary, and with strict adherence to
all social distancing protocols.

(12) Golf courses may open for golf only and provided that they operate in accordance
with the pertinent “All Together New Mexico: COVID-Safe Practices for
Individuals and Businesses”.

(13) Outdoor tennis facilities may open for outdoor use only and provided that they
operate in accordance with the pertinent “All Together New Mexico: COVID-Safe
Practices for Individuals and Businesses”.

(14) State parks may open on a modified basis and subject to staff availability. They may
only be open for day use. Camping areas, visitor centers, and any other large
enclosed indoor spaces normally open to the public shall remain closed.

(15) Summer youth programs may operate on a limited basis that complies with the
pertinent CSP’s set out in the “All Together New Mexico: COVID-Safe Practices for
Individuals and Employers”.

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 (16) The New Mexico Department of Public Safety, the New Mexico Department of
Homeland Security and Emergency Management, the Department of the
Environment, and all other State departments and agencies are authorized to take all
appropriate steps to ensure compliance with this Order.

(17) In order to minimize the shortage of health care supplies and other necessary goods,
grocery stores and other retailers are hereby directed to limit the sale of medications,
durable medical equipment, baby formula, diapers, sanitary care products, and
hygiene products to three items per individual. NMSA 1978, § 12-I0A-6 (2012).

I FURTHER DIRECT as follows:

(1) This Order shall be broadly disseminated in English, Spanish and other appropriate
languages to the citizens of the State of New Mexico.

(2) This Order declaring restrictions based upon the existence of a condition of public
health importance shall not abrogate any disease-reporting requirements set forth in
the New Mexico Public Health Act.

(3) Nothing in this Order is intended to restrain or preempt local authorities from
enacting more stringent restrictions than those required by the Order.

(4) This Order shall take effect immediately and remain in effect through May 31, 2020.
This Order shall be effective in all counties of New Mexico except for Cibola
County, McKinley County, and San Juan County. Cibola County, McKinley
County, and San Juan County are subject to the terms of the May 5, 2020 Public
Health Emergency Order through May 31, 2020.

I FURTHER ADVISE the public to take the following preventive precautions:

- New Mexico citizens should stay at home and undertake only those outings
absolutely necessary for their health, safety, or welfare.
- Retailers should take appropriate action consistent with this order to reduce hoarding and
ensure that all New Mexicans can purchase necessary goods.
- Avoid crowds.
- Avoid all non-essential travel including plane trips and cruise ships. Self-quarantine or
self-isolate for at least fourteen days after all out-of-state travel.

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ATTEST: DONE AT THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE
THIS 27TH DAY OF MAY 2020

_____________________________ WITNESS MY HAND AND THE GREAT

MAGGIE TOULOUSE OLIVER SEAL OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO
SECRETARY OF STATE

_____________________________________
KATHYLEEN M. KUNKEL
SECRETARY OF THE STATE OF NEW
MEXICO DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH