New Mexico Quarantine Contradiction

Above, entering New Mexico on Route 66 from Lupton, Arizona. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

A few days ago, I posted about the 14-day self-quarantine rule that the loony Gov. "Malevolent Michelle" Lujan Grisham imposed on people entering New Mexico.

The story has been picked up by RVTravel.com.

They wrote:

If you are traveling through New Mexico to or from another state, you may want to reroute unless you can pass through without spending even one night. Even if you only want to stay one night to sleep, you’re be stuck there by law for 14 days – and in quarantine the entire time. That means not leaving a hotel room/RV/rental unless for medical reasons. 

David Morgan, a spokesman for the New Mexico Department of Health, clarified that any out-of-state travelers planning to stay overnight in New Mexico must self-quarantine for at least 14 days or “for the duration of their presence in the state, whichever is shorter.” 

“If you are entering our state, and you are staying the night, you’re actually going to be staying for 14 nights, because you are a part of our self-quarantine requirement for anybody entering our state,” said Morgan.

I noticed something strange about the phrases (in bold) as had one of the readers (Fred) who posted this comment:

This article is total nonsense & contradicts itself. The spokesman for New Mexico Health Department clearly says “must self-quarantine for at least 14 days or for the duration of their presence in the state, whichever is shorter“. So, if you’re just travelling thru the state, you stay in your rv overnight & don’t enter any restaurants or stores. If you’re staying in a campground, you would register over the phone. If the duration of your stay is one night or two nights, & you don’t mix with anyone else, the health department is fine with that. There would be no need to avoid going thru the state. To state that your would be stuck there for 14 days, just because you’re passing thru the state, is disingenuous & totally misleading. Your claim would mean all truck & commercial delivery traffic into the state would have to cease. Another instance of “fake news”.

It is not the "article" that is nonsense and contradicts itself. It is David Morgan who spoke out of both sides of his mouth. The order does state, "whichever is shorter." Fred is right.

To read the full article, go here.