Occupancy limit for churches raised from 10% to 25%

New Mexico’s governor on Friday announced an increase in the occupancy limit from 10% to 25% for churches about to reopen this weekend when the state’s new public health order takes effect Saturday.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham also ticked up the capacity cap for big-box stores and groceries from 20% to 25% when the amended health order goes into effect Saturday. She also announced the state’s Motor Vehicle Division locations would partially reopen June 1.

Lujan Grisham initially announced a 10% occupancy cap for churches and 20% occupancy rate for big-box stores and grocers during her briefing Wednesday.

Several churches in Tucumcari announced Thursday and Friday they would reopen for services this weekend, with COVID-safe practices. The governor also praised churches if they chose to remain closed until the pandemic’s danger lessens.

These are the new details of the amended health order, effective Saturday:

– All retailers except wholesalers and suppliers can reopen at 25% fire-code capacity with COVID-19 safeguards that include face coverings, daily cleaning and sanitizing especially on high-touch areas such as doors and credit-card terminals and establishing protocols for pickup and delivery, if possible;

– Larger retailers such as groceries and big-box stores can operate at 25% capacity;

– Concert halls, theaters, casinos, massage parlors and amusement parks would remain closed;

– Non-essential businesses could reopen at up to 25% of usual staffing levels;

– Churches can reopen at 25% capacity with COVID-19 safeguards;

– Additional state parks can reopen with COVID-19 safeguards (Conchas Lake State Park northwest of Tucumcari remains closed);

– Visits to long-term care facilities would remain restricted;

– Masks would be required for everyone in indoor and outdoor public areas except while eating, drinking, exercising and for medical requirements;

– A 14-day quarantine would remain in place for out-of-state airport arrivals;

– Vacation rentals would remain prohibited to out-of-state residents;

– The loosening of restrictions does not apply to McKinley, Cibola and San Juan counties, which remain hard-hit by the virus.

Lujan Grisham, citing restaurants' high risk in spreading the virus, said she likely would allow eateries to partially reopen to dine-in eating in early June if the spread of the virus in the state remained in control.

Closed salons, barbershops, gyms and indoor malls also are tentatively slated to reopen in early June. She has said she anticipated an easing of occupancy restrictions on churches, motels and hotels at that time, as well.

Regarding the mask mandate that goes into effect Saturday, Lujan Grisham said she did not expect state police officers to issue citations to New Mexicans who weren’t wearing masks. She said she wanted to use positive reinforcement and even “stern reminders” to would-be violators.

The governor also said businesses that didn’t adhere to COVID-safe practices, including mask usage, would be cited for violating the health order.

Regarding MVD offices, Lujan Grisham said they likely would partially reopen June 1 by appointment for in-person services that cannot be handled online.

Those in-person services include REAL IDs, services for senior citizens, driving tests and VIN inspections. MVD employees will be masked, and customers will be requested to wear them. Staffers also will disinfect vehicles after they use them.

Health Services Secretary said the people most vulnerable to COVID-19 were those 65 and older, in nursing homes or assisted care and have medical conditions such as chronic lung disease or asthma, heart conditions, weak immune systems, severe obesity, diabetes, kidney disease that requires dialysis and liver disease. He said disabled people, the homeless and minority groups also are higher-risk.

Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver encouraged voters to request an absentee ballot for the June 2 primary election through the NMvote.org site or their county clerk so they could cast a ballot in the safety of their homes instead of with in-person voting. She said more than 130,000 people had requested absentee ballots so far. The deadline to request such a ballot is May 28.

The number of COVID-19 cases in New Mexico rose Friday by 164 to a total of 5,662. The death toll rose by 11, to 253. The disease has hospitalized a total of 223 people.

The number of coronavirus cases in Quay County remained at five, with the newest case reported Tuesday.

In the U.S., 1.4 million confirmed cases were reported, with more than 87,000 deaths.