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The three graphs shown above come from the New Mexico Governor’s Office, they detail the spread of COVID-19 in New Mexico from the beginning of March, as well as the rise in COVID-19 amongst all age groups in the state. Additionally, the graphs explain the amount of Rapid Responses that the state has done with businesses to ensure that all cases of the virus have been caught to try and stop transmission of the disease. CC – New Mexico Governor’s Office
NEW MEXICO – New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham held a press conference on Oct. 20 to provide a pandemic update.
New Mexico Secretary of Health and Human Services Dr. David Scrase said that every single age group broke a record this past week in the number of COVID-19 cases. The 35-64 age group is having a “very rapid uptick.” He explained that older people are more likely to be hospitalized and die from a COVID-19 infection. Because of this massive growth in cases, Governor Lujan Grisham warned that the state’s hospitals are becoming full, especially in Albuquerque, New Mexico, which has been a referral hub for the rest of the state that cannot house all their COVID-19 cases.
The governor warned that the next two weeks will be crucial to keep hospitals from becoming overfilled. She warned that winter is coming, and the state may have a series of new issues that come from COVID-19 during this time.
Secretary Dr. Scrase said that people need to continue receiving necessary care, explaining that people must continue to get medical work done. Healthcare cannot be avoided, and right now there is a safe space to get necessary care.
“We still have room in the hospitals but we are very, very concerned about the next two weeks,” Scrase said.
The state is setting up a watch list for more transparency to show which businesses have had several rapid responses.
“If you need to go out to one of these businesses, you will have a tool to know where COVID[-19] is in your communities,” said NM Environment Department Secretary James C. Kenny. Rapid response is a statewide program that helps people identify cases after a business reports a case.
“We’re not shutting down because we’re trying to learn to live with the virus,” Governor Lujan Grisham said, explaining that winter will pose several issues. “We have to get it right, we have to do everything to make sure that we can get routine care,” the governor explained.
She warned that cold weather will pose a series of new issues for COVID-19 transmission across the state.
“We should be alarmed at how quickly – the virus got out of control fast. I want everyone to know about our goals to minimize the virus’ spread,” said Governor Lujan Grisham.
New restrictions
Governor Lujan Grisham said that New Mexico needs to stabilize its COVID-19 transmission cases; there needs to be some sort of restrictions that help keep the economy open and keep state residents safe.
Effective Friday Oct. 23
• A business must close for two weeks if it has four rapid responses; this applies to all businesses.
The governor explained that businesses are not spreading the virus, but people shopping at those establishments are spreading the virus. This restriction would be a significant effort to keep the economy open and working while managing the virus. More details about this order can be found at https://www.env.nm.gov/
If this were in effect right now, Secretary Kenny explained that 42 businesses across the state would be closed.
• Strict restrictions for indoor dining
“Limited occupancy indoors is not a sustainable model, economically,” Governor Lujan Grisham said. The governor explained that restaurants can receive a New Mexico Safe Training to have indoor dining – restaurants that do not complete this training cannot offer indoor dining. Restaurants must keep a logbook of customers for three weeks to help with contact tracing.
The governor explained that there is not always a way to identify customers at restaurants who may have been exposed to COVID-19, so the logbook will help to keep people safe.
“We have to find a way to safely offer indoor dining,” she said.
• All retail stores must close by 10 p.m. every night
Retail is not pharmacy, healthcare, and other necessary suppliers are exempt from this order. Governor Lujan Grisham said that this is to keep people from spreading the virus even further.
“Please try and shop alone. Do not bring your family; do your shopping online,” the governor pleaded and pointed to the data.
• State operated museums and historical spots are going to close
“We are in a very difficult space in New Mexico … we’re in the fourth quarter, we can win,” Governor Lujan Grisham said.
The governor explained that these new restrictions are important to keep the economy opened and to keep New Mexicans safe.
COVID-Safe Triangle
“If we don’t attack and snuff out the virus right now by working together, the virus will win,” the governor said, explaining that the state can manage the virus and beat it. New Mexico went from one of the best states in the nation to one of the worst, but the state can still beath the virus.
The governor has developed a “COVID-Safe Triangle.” To keep people as safe as possible, she said that there are three places that New Mexicans can go when not at home.
1. To work
2. To run an errand
3. To exercise selfcare
“Stay home, except for the essentials,” said Governor Lujan Grisham who added that a great way to keep the virus from spreading is to shop alone.
Schools and in-person learning
“We are pausing doing more in-person, hybrid learning,” the governor said.
She commented that the state will hold where it is and not expand it further. Dr. Scrase explained that the state needs to learn how to live in a COVID-positive world and that some schools have been open for five weeks now. While there have been new cases, tools like masks and social distancing help avoid spreading the disease. Lieutenant Governor
Lieutenant Governor Howie Morales said that this week middle schools were supposed to reopen for in-person learning but that it’s not possible now.
“This virus doesn’t care how old you are or what political party you are,” Governor Lujan Grisham said. She warned that the state needs to cautious because, “One in three New Mexicans is at risk for severe complications and death,” from COVID-19.
The governor explained that masks and social distancing are the best tools to keep the virus from spreading.
“Now is not a time to panic, but to be prepared,” Lt. Governor Howie Morales said.
Tuesday’s updated COVID-19 numbers were not available by the end of the conference.