New tiered system will allow counties to reopen based on COVID spread rate

Red, yellow, green: New tiered system will allow counties to reopen based on COVID spread rate

Updated: 9:13 PM MST Nov 27, 2020

Gov. Lujan Grisham and state officials announced on Friday that New Mexico will be transitioning into a tiered county-by-county COVID-19 risk system.Starting Wednesday, Dec 2., the state will implement a tier system to allow counties to reopen based on their spread rate. “The county-by-county framework enables counties, and the businesses and nonprofits within their borders, to operate with fewer restrictions when they slow the spread of the virus and drive down test positivity rates,” said Grisham. “It’s been a difficult year and an especially difficult past month. We must remain as vigilant as ever to contain and beat the virus; we also must look for ways to lessen the burden on our communities wherever possible, while never swerving from our top priority – protecting New Mexicans and saving lives.”The counties will operate under one of the three levels: Red, signifying very high risk; Yellow, signifying high risk; and Green, signifying medium risk. If a county is green, most business categories can operate at 50% capacity. To get to this level, there can be no more than eight new COVID cases per 100,000 residents in a two week period and the positivity rate has to be less than or equal to 5 percent.As of Friday, 32 of 33 counties in New Mexico are at the Red Level. At the red level, businesses can still reopen but will have tighter restrictions: Essential retail spaces like grocery stores can only operate at 25% capacity or 75 customers, whichever is smaller. Restaurants and drink establishments can have outdoor dining at 25% capacity, but no indoor dining. Close contact businesses like hair salons and gyms can reopen at 25 percent capacity or 10 customers, whichever is smaller.Outdoor recreational facilities are at 25%.Close contact recreational facilities, such as movie theatres, indoor museums, and bars must stay closed.Houses of worship are at 25% capacity.Places of lodging can operate at 40% capacity if they are New Mexico safe certified. The others are at 25%.All other businesses are at 25% capacity or 75 customers.According to the state, when a county fails to meet the specified metrics for a given level upon the biweekly update of the map, it will begin operating at the next most restrictive level within 48 hours. In addition, when a county meets the specific metrics for a less restrictive level, the county may begin operating at that level of restrictions upon immediate effect of the department’s biweekly update of the map. Click here to see the breakdown of the tier-system and click here to see the official map displaying each county’s current level.