A "Slight Reopening" of Retailers

Above, firearms stores will be allowed to operate by appointment only in some counties. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

A "slight reopening" of retailers in New Mexico has been announced by Gov. "Malevolent Michelle" Lujan Grisham.

According to the Las Cruces Sun News:

SANTA FE — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced a "slight reopening" of businesses in New Mexico to take effect across most of the state on Saturday.  

However, in a shift from the governor's position last week, all New Mexicans will be required to wear face coverings in public spaces under new public health orders.  

Lujan Grisham announced the new guidance during a virtual news conference from the state Capitol building which opened with news that 155 new cases of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus which causes COVID-19 disease.  

The new cases bring the state's aggregate total to 5,364, or 4.7 percent of the 115,011 completed tests as reported by the state Department of Health Wednesday.  

Additionally, she announced 12 new deaths associated with the disease, while 200 individuals were hospitalized in New Mexico. 52 of those patients were on ventilators. 

While most who contract COVID-19 experience mild to moderate symptoms, some patients experience serious complications leading to serious illness or death. A total of 231 New Mexicans have died, or 4 percent of the state's confirmed cases.  

The current public health orders will be extended through May 31 and include numerous modifications, including differentiated regulations for different regions of the state. 

In all but the northwestern area consisting of Cibola, McKinley and San Juan counties, small retailers will be allowed to operate while limiting occupancy to 25 percent of their fire code capacity. For grocery stores and big box retailers, the occupancy limit will be 20 percent.    

Cibola, McKinley and San Juan counties, meanwhile, will enter a "preparation phase" for resuming economic activity, the governor said. 

In those counties, nonessential retailers will be permitted to operate curbside or delivery services, firearms stories will operate by appointment only, and golf courses, pet and veterinary services will also be allowed to open. 

Excluded from the reopening are movie theaters, concert halls and amusement parks.

It looks like that the reopening salons and barber shops, gyms, indoor malls and dine-in restaurants won't come until June.

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