Stay at Home – Essential Businesses
Note: The information contained on this page is for archival purposes only and it is no longer maintained or updated.
Essential Businesses
A public health emergency order that has been extended until May 15, 2020, suspends most operations of businesses and nonprofit entities except for those deemed essential. As of May 1, non-essential retail businesses may reopen for curbside and delivery only where their license allows it. Certain non-essential businesses where curbside and delivery is not feasible — such as with firearms dealers — may operate by appointment-only.
Government services at all levels remain open but must continue to work remotely to the greatest extent feasible.
The following is a list of private operations deemed essential per that order. If after checking the list you are still unsure if your business is essential, send an email to covid.exemption@state.nm.us.
HEALTHCARE / PUBLIC HEALTH
- Hospitals
- Walk-in-care health facilities
- Veterinary and livestock services
- Pharmacies
- Medical and wholesale and distribution
- Home health care workers or aides for the elderly
- Emergency dental facilities
- Nursing homes
- Residential health care facilities
- Research facilities
- Congregate care facilities
- Intermediate care facilities for those with intellectual or developmental disabilities
- Supportive living homes
- Home health care providers
- Medical supplies and equipment manufacturers and providers
- Medical cannabis
EMERGENCY SERVICES
- Law enforcement personnel
- First Responders
- Firefighters
- Emergency management personnel
- Dispatch operators
- Court personnel
CHILDCARE
- Facilities necessary to provide services to those workers employed by essential businesses and non-profit entities as well as non-essential businesses operating curbside or delivery services.
INDIGENT CARE
- Homeless shelters
- Food banks
- Other services providing care to indigent or needy populations
INFRASTRUCTURE OPERATIONS
- Public works construction
- Commercial and residential construction and maintenance
- Utilities, including their contractors and suppliers, involved in water and waste-water supply
- Sewer, trash and recycling collection, processing and disposal
- Road and highway repair and construction
- Solid waste collection and removal
- Nuclear material research and enrichment
- Data and internet providers
- Data centers
- Telecommunications systems
FOOD AND AGRICULTURE
- Farms, ranches and other food cultivation, processing or packaging operations
- Grocery stores and supermarkets (however, they must limit the number of customers allowed inside at one time)
- Food banks
- Farmers’ markets
- Vendors who sell food
- Convenience stores
- Other businesses that generate most of their revenue from the sale of canned food, dry goods, fresh fruits and vegetables, pet food, fresh meats, fish and poultry, and any other household consumer products
- Businesses that store, ship or deliver groceries, food, goods or services directly to residences or retailers
- Restaurants, but only for delivery or carryout
ENERGY
- Gas and oil drilling and refining
- Electrical production and distribution
- Natural resources extraction or mining operations
- Utilities, including their contractors and suppliers, engaged in power generation, fuel supply and transmission
MANUFACTURE
- Food processing
- Chemicals
- Fertilizer
- Pharmaceuticals
- Sanitary products
- Household paper products
- Telecommunications
- Microelectronics/semiconductors
- Primary metals
- Machinery
- Electrical equipment
- Appliance
- Components
- Transportation equipment
DEFENSE RESEARCH
- Laboratories
- Defense and national security-related operations supporting the U.S. government or a U.S. government contractor
TRANSPORTATION
- Airport operations
- Airlines
- Taxis and other private transportation providers
- Gas stations
- Automobile repair facilities
- Retailers who generate most of their revenue from the sale of automobile repair products
SERVICE SECTOR
- Plumbers
- Electricians
- Security services
- Custodial services
- Businesses that generate most of their revenue from mailing and shipping services, including post office boxes
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
- Legal services as necessary to assist in compliance with legally mandated activities
- Accounting services as necessary to assist in compliance with legally mandated activities
FINANCIAL SERVICES
- Banks
- Credit unions
- Insurance providers
- Payroll services
- Brokerage services
- Investment management firms
MEDIA
- Television
- Radio
- Newspaper operations
MISCELLANEOUS
- Hardware stores and businesses that generate most of their revenue from the sale of goods used for essential home repairs.
- Laundromats and dry cleaner services
- Funeral homes, crematoriums and cemeteries
- Real estate services including brokers, title companies and related services
Copyright New Mexico Department of Health