Ute Lake to stay closed

Ute Lake State Park in Logan will remain closed through Aug. 25 after several employees there tested positive for COVID-19, according to a news release from the state Saturday afternoon.

The park closed Wednesday after several park employees showed coronavirus-like symptoms.

“On Tuesday, August 11th, during routine screening some employees reported a high temperature and were immediately sent home,” stated Susan Torres, public information officer with the New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department.

“The Park was closed out of an abundance of caution for the public’s safety and facilities are undergoing a thorough cleaning. The Park will be closed at least until August 25th as staff quarantine.”

Several of those employees later tested positive for the virus, Torres stated.

Ute Lake State Park is the first in New Mexico's state park system to close because of COVID-19.

Torres urged all New Mexicans who believe they may have been exposed to COVID-19 to self-isolate for 14 days and be tested.

Logan has seen a surge of COVID-19 cases, with 15 confirmed cases in five days through Sunday.

Another confirmed case was reported last week at Logan Municipal Schools, and the state's rapid-response team was referred to the case Thursday. The Logan school board met Sunday night to delay the start of the school year, originally scheduled for Monday, to Sept. 8.

State parks for months have been open for day use only during the COVID-19 pandemic. Overnight camping remains closed, and a July 31 memo stated many state parks “are currently operating under reduced hours and days of operations.”

The state last month also forbid out-of-state visitors from going into its parks because of the virus.