What Other States Can Learn From New Mexico's Coronavirus Response | The 11th Hour | MSNBC New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham explains why, despite the low number of confirmed coronavirus cases in her states, she's taking aggressive action ...
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State enacts further restrictions to stop spread, including stay-at-home instruction
Mar 23, 2020 | Press Releases
SANTA FE Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Monday announced additional restrictions to disrupt the spread of the COVID-19 virus in New Mexico and instructed New Mexicans to remain in their homes or places of residence except for outings absolutely necessary for health, safety and welfare.
The order to be issued by Secretary of Health Kathy Kunkel and effective 8 a.m. Tuesday, March 24 closes all non-essential businesses, requiring 100 percent of the state's non-essential workforce to work from home. As in other states that have enacted similar measures, there are exceptions pertaining to essential services for the preservation of health, safety and well-being.
"The only way for us to stop the spread of this virus is for New Mexicans to stop interacting with each other," said Gov. Lujan Grisham. "New Mexicans must be crystal-clear on this point: Right now, every time you leave your house, you are putting yourself, your family and your community at risk. Only by distancing from one another, by remaining home except for essential or emergency travel, can we limit the spread of this virus to the point that it does not overwhelm New Mexico.
"This clearly exempts people who are part of the essential functions that must continue: The individuals providing meals for kids at our schools; the individuals working at health care facilities, child care facilities, public safety entities and many more. Those individuals are helping keep us operating in a new and limited way. They deserve our profound gratitude.
"As we wait for the federal government to get states the help we need in expanding capacity and testing materials and financial assistance, staying home is the one action all of us, individually and as a group, can control," the governor added. "Please stay home. Help protect New Mexico."
Intended to aggressively limit person-to-person contact in the state, the amended emergency public health order closes all non-essential businesses except for remote work.
The order advises that New Mexicans "must stay at home and undertake only those outings absolutely necessary for their health, safety or welfare" and further restricts "mass gatherings" of five or more individuals in outdoor spaces.
"Does this order mean you cannot walk your dog? No. Does it mean you can't go for a jog? No. But you should not do those things in a group and you should be home as soon as possible," the governor said. "This social isolation strategy will only work if we all undertake it to the greatest extent we can. That boils down to one thing: Stay home."
The amended public health emergency order is attached to this news release.
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