State to re-enact certain public health restrictions

[Skip to content](#main-content)

# PRESS RELEASES

1. [Home](https://www.governor.state.nm.us) 2. [Press Releases](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/press-releases/) 3. State to re-enact certain public health restrictions

# State to re-enact certain public health restrictions

Jul 9, 2020 | [Press Releases](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/press-releases/)

#### _Indoor seating at restaurants, breweries prohibited;_ _state parks accessible only to residents of New Mexico_

SANTA FE – Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Thursday announced the state of New Mexico will re-enact emergency public health restrictions on high-contact indoor environments where face-coverings are not worn in order to slow the rising spread of COVID-19 across the state.

A new emergency public health order declaring the state’s renewed public health protections will be effective Monday, July 13.

New Mexico’s statewide cases of COVID-19 and rolling average of cases have risen and continue to rise. In the past two weeks, the state has seen 3,068 new positive cases of COVID-19, representing 21.5% of the total positive cases statewide over the course of the pandemic. These trends are similar to frightening upticks creating health care and hospital resource shortages in neighboring states and across the country.

The new public health order will prohibit indoor dining at restaurants, which had been permitted at a limited capacity in the state since June 1. Also restricted will be indoor seating at breweries, which had been permitted at a limited capacity since June 15.

Both restaurants and breweries may operate outdoor seating at 50 percent of the maximum occupancy as determined by fire code. Restaurants may continue to operate carry out, pickup and delivery services. Breweries may continue to operate curbside pickup services.

The public health order will also be amended to restrict out-of-state visitors at New Mexico state parks. Visitors to state parks must demonstrate proof of residency or will not be permitted entry. According to New Mexico State Parks, visitors must show one of the following to demonstrate residency: a valid New Mexico license plate, New Mexico driver’s license or ID card, New Mexico vehicle registration, federal document attesting to residency, or military identification. In order to ensure compliance with the new public health order, State Parks will further modify days and hours of operation for a handful of parks due to continued visitation from out of state residents and the additional staff time needed to enforce the public health order. Visitors can check the list of state parks currently operating [**here**](http://www.emnrd.state.nm.us/SPD/).

The state’s mandate that all individuals must wear face-coverings in public – in effect since May 16 – will be strengthened to additionally require individuals to wear face-coverings while exercising. This requirement includes those exercising at indoor gyms and fitness centers. Operators of those establishments, like operators of other essential businesses, must require customers to wear face-coverings; violators will be subject to a fine.

“We knew when we began our methodical reopening process that we would be introducing risk, and to counter that risk we would all have to amend our behavior and take every individual precaution to begin to live in a COVID-positive world and sustain that process,” said Gov. Lujan Grisham. “Unfortunately, our state’s dramatically rising case numbers reflect that those behavior modifications and precautions have either not been taken seriously or taken up by enough people. The virus has been unleashed: Too many of us are still not wearing masks. Too many of us are still congregating in groups, taking risks with our own lives and endangering the health of our family members, our neighbors and our state. This virus does not discriminate. But we know prolonged exposure without face-coverings – as is the case in high-contact indoor settings – is a significant risk factor. And if we are to safely reopen our schools this fall, if we are to prevent further illness and hospitalization and death in our state, we must eliminate as much of the risk as we can. We flattened the curve in this state once. We’ll do it again.

“I know this news is a tough pill to swallow for many New Mexicans,” the governor added. “This public health crisis has been an overwhelming challenge for all of us – not least business-owners and workers whose lives and livelihoods have been upended as this virus spreads. But as I’ve said many times throughout this pandemic: We will not wait, as a state, for the worst to occur to make the hard decisions. We will not wait for rising cases to turn into rising hospitalizations and deaths as in our neighboring states.

“I am grateful to every New Mexican who is doing everything possible to slow this virus down. What we’re learning from the increase of COVID-19 cases across the state is that it’s going to take all of us together to put this virus in its place and allow us to really be able to move on with our lives. The best way to take care of our families and our economy is to take care of each other. Please wear facemasks. Please don’t gather in large groups without them. Please keep physical distance from others, and practice those healthy habits we were raised on. Emergency public health orders aren’t about controlling lives; they’re about saving lives. Getting this virus under control means being able to reopen our businesses, getting our kids back in schools and reuniting families with their loved ones in nursing homes. We have proven we can flatten the curve once; the only way we’ll flatten it again and get back to the lives we want to lead is pulling together.”

“COVID-19 cases in New Mexico are climbing at an alarming rate. We’re seeing an increase in younger people under 30 years of age that are testing positive for the virus – it has almost tripled in rate. Young people are not invincible – the first known COVID-19 related lung transplant was performed on a patient in Chicago in her 20s,” said Human Services Secretary David R. Scrase, M.D. “Her lungs became so damaged she could not survive without support from machines and received a double-lung transplant on June 5. We know that human to human contact is spreading the coronavirus therefore if you want to see our economy recover, save 33,000 lives, and protect yourself: remain vigilant. Stay at home, wash your hands, clean surfaces, cough into a tissue, everyone needs to wear a face mask in public, and maintain social distancing of a minimum of 6 feet.”

“There has been significant community spread in our state since New Mexico opened more businesses,” said Health Secretary Kathy Kunkel, “and that spread has not been sufficiently mitigated with COVID-safe behaviors like face-coverings. Without those behaviors and strategies being uniformly adopted, the best way to reduce transmission is to reduce the opportunity for spread. We will all help each other through this.”

#### Recent Posts

*  [Governor appoints Rebecca Roose as Natural Resources Trustee](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2026/06/05/governor-appoints-rebecca-roose-as-natural-resources-trustee/)  * [U.S. Supreme Court approves Rio Grande compact settlement – Agreement ends 13-year interstate dispute](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2026/05/28/u-s-supreme-court-approves-rio-grande-compact-settlement-agreement-ends-13-year-interstate-dispute/)  * [Health care loan repayment expands to address doctor shortage – Record expansion part of strategy to add health providers in NM](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2026/05/26/health-care-loan-repayment-expands-to-address-doctor-shortage-record-expansion-part-of-strategy-to-add-health-providers-in-nm/) * [Governor declares statewide drought and severe fire conditions – Agencies will coordinate community and water protection efforts](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2026/05/20/governor-declares-statewide-drought-and-severe-fire-conditions-agencies-will-coordinate-community-and-water-protection-efforts/)    * [Governor Lujan Grisham leads trade mission to Japan](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2026/05/11/governor-lujan-grisham-leads-trade-mission-to-japan/)

## Press Release Archive

* [June 2026](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2026/06/) (1) * [May 2026](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2026/05/) (6) * [April 2026](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2026/04/) (5) * [March 2026](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2026/03/) (10) * [February 2026](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2026/02/) (21) * [January 2026](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2026/01/) (10) * [December 2025](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2025/12/) (7) * [November 2025](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2025/11/) (6) * [October 2025](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2025/10/) (11) * [September 2025](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2025/09/) (11) * [August 2025](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2025/08/) (7) * [July 2025](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2025/07/) (9) * [June 2025](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2025/06/) (10) * [May 2025](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2025/05/) (4) * [April 2025](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2025/04/) (12) * [March 2025](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2025/03/) (13) * [February 2025](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2025/02/) (11) * [January 2025](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2025/01/) (11) * [December 2024](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2024/12/) (5) * [November 2024](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2024/11/) (9) * [October 2024](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2024/10/) (10) * [September 2024](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2024/09/) (16) * [August 2024](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2024/08/) (9) * [July 2024](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2024/07/) (13) * [June 2024](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2024/06/) (17) * [May 2024](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2024/05/) (5) * [April 2024](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2024/04/) (9) * [March 2024](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2024/03/) (13) * [February 2024](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2024/02/) (19) * [January 2024](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2024/01/) (13) * [December 2023](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2023/12/) (10) * [November 2023](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2023/11/) (8) * [October 2023](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2023/10/) (13) * [September 2023](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2023/09/) (6) * [August 2023](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2023/08/) (9) * [July 2023](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2023/07/) (16) * [June 2023](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2023/06/) (19) * [May 2023](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2023/05/) (17) * [April 2023](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2023/04/) (11) * [March 2023](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2023/03/) (24) * [February 2023](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2023/02/) (23) * [January 2023](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2023/01/) (23) * [December 2022](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2022/12/) (14) * [November 2022](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2022/11/) (17) * [October 2022](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2022/10/) (19) * [September 2022](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2022/09/) (22) * [August 2022](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2022/08/) (26) * [July 2022](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2022/07/) (27) * [June 2022](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2022/06/) (23) * [May 2022](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2022/05/) (15) * [April 2022](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2022/04/) (17) * [March 2022](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2022/03/) (21) * [February 2022](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2022/02/) (25) * [January 2022](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2022/01/) (18) * [December 2021](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2021/12/) (10) * [November 2021](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2021/11/) (7) * [October 2021](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2021/10/) (8) * [September 2021](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2021/09/) (23) * [August 2021](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2021/08/) (14) * [July 2021](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2021/07/) (12) * [June 2021](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2021/06/) (18) * [May 2021](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2021/05/) (14) * [April 2021](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2021/04/) (24) * [March 2021](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2021/03/) (15) * [February 2021](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2021/02/) (17) * [January 2021](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2021/01/) (33) * [December 2020](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2020/12/) (33) * [November 2020](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2020/11/) (38) * [October 2020](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2020/10/) (42) * [September 2020](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2020/09/) (43) * [August 2020](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2020/08/) (39) * [July 2020](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2020/07/) (42) * [June 2020](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2020/06/) (47) * [May 2020](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2020/05/) (47) * [April 2020](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2020/04/) (39) * [March 2020](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2020/03/) (62) * [February 2020](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2020/02/) (40) * [January 2020](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2020/01/) (15) * [December 2019](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2019/12/) (16) * [November 2019](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2019/11/) (6) * [October 2019](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2019/10/) (6) * [September 2019](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2019/09/) (11) * [August 2019](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2019/08/) (9) * [July 2019](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2019/07/) (14) * [June 2019](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2019/06/) (7) * [May 2019](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2019/05/) (12) * [April 2019](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2019/04/) (12) * [March 2019](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2019/03/) (19) * [February 2019](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2019/02/) (29) * [January 2019](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2019/01/) (14) * [December 2018](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2018/12/) (1)

### Categories

* [2022 Wildfires](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2022-wildfires/) * [COVID-19](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/covid-19/) * [Early Childhood Education](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/early-childhood-education/) * [Legislative Updates](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/legislative-updates/) * [Press Releases](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/press-releases/) * [Public Safety](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/public-safety/) * [Uncategorized](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/uncategorized/)

## Contact

The Office of Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham is located on the fourth floor of the New Mexico State Capitol in Room 400.

Address: 490 Old Santa Fe Trail Room 400 Santa Fe, NM 87501

Phone: (505) 476-2200 Toll free: (833) 520-0020

## Quick Links

* [Open Positions](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/apply/open-positions/) * [Boards and Commissions](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/apply/boards-and-commissions/) * [Judicial and District Attorney Posts](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/judicial-and-district-attorney-posts/)

## Flag Status