Governor to extend order to May 15, floats reopening plan

New Mexico's governor said today she likely would extend the public health emergency to May 15 because of the coronavirus and laid out a tentative, phased-in plan to reopen the state's economy.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said during a briefing she probably would make an announcement later this week to extend the emergency and its restrictions – which began in mid-March and were tightened in early April – to mid-May.

She also laid out a draft plan to reopen the economy. In an answer to a reporter's question, she said the state would consider certain non-essential businesses being reopened under certain safety conditions as early as this week.

In Phase I of the reopening plan:

– People vulnerable to the disease would stay at home.

– Some non-essential businesses would be permitted to reopen if they complied with COVID-19 safe practices.

– Certain businesses would remain closed.

In Phase II of reopening:

– Additional businesses would reopen if they complied with safe practices.

– Large gatherings would be restricted for the foreseeable future.

Lujan Grisham warned any municipality that orders the reopening of non-essential businesses would be in violation of the public health order.

Human Services Secretary David Scrase said he saw “encouraging news” about the slowing of the spread of coronavirus but noted the northwest part of the state will had a high prevalence of the disease.

He gave criteria on when it appeared New Mexico had control of the disease:

– Declining number of active cases;

– Ramped-up testing and testing capacity of the virus, including a goal of 100,000 tests per day;

– Contact tracing of victims;

– Adequate supplies of personal protective equipment;

– Sufficient hospital capacity;

– Good healthcare worker well-being;

– A containment plan for new outbreaks.

Lujan Grisham praised the actions of residents for slowing the spread of COVID-19 but cautioned against complacency.

“We're not out of this fight yet,” she said. “Until we have a vaccine, this virus lives among us, looking for hosts.”