Frequently Asked Questions

What is different about this?

This public health effort is designed to provide local communities the flexibility to operate more day-to-day activities while assuring public health requirements in each jurisdiction align with the risks presented by and are strong enough to blunt the spread of the virus within that jurisdiction. In short, the “red to green” system enables local communities to shed burdensome restrictions as soon as public health data show the virus is retreating within their borders.

Are all businesses closed?

No, almost every category of business or nonprofit is permitted to operate to some extent. All day-to-day activities are under some level of public health restriction, mostly on in-person activity, intended to limit person-to-person contact and crowding in indoor spaces, where the virus spreads more easily. Nothing in the public health order precludes businesses from operating remotely or employees from teleworking.

How is each level determined?

The two key health metrics that are used to determine where a county sits within the tiered framework are pulled identified within the state’s gating criteria, the set of public health datapoints tracked and measured by the state Medical Advisory Team and others: The per-capita incidence of new COVID-19 cases and average COVID-19 test positivity over a statistically meaningful period of time. These are also the same metrics the state has used to classify counties for the purposes of gauging the risk level for limited public school reopenings and limited nursing home visitations.

Counties at the Turquoise Level have both a new COVID-19 case incidence rate of no greater than 8 cases per 100,000 inhabitants during the two most recent 14-day reporting periods, and an average percent of positive COVID-19 test results over the two most recent 14-day reporting period less than or equal to 5%.

Counties at the Green Level have both a new COVID-19 case incidence rate of no greater than 8 cases per 100,000 inhabitants during the most recent two-week period, and an average percent of positive COVID-19 test results over the most recent 14-day period less than or equal to 5%.

Counties at the Yellow Level have either a new COVID-19 case incidence rate of no greater than 8 cases per 100,000 inhabitants during the most recent two-week period, or an average percent of positive COVID-19 test results over the most recent 14-day period less than or equal to 5%.

Counties at the Red Level are those with a new COVID-19 case incident rate of greater than 8 cases per 100,000 inhabitants during the most recent two-week period and an average percent of positive COVID-19 test results over the most recent 14-day period greater than 5%.

These data are measured and kept at cv.nmhealth.org.

Where can I see my county’s level?

The New Mexico Department of Health maintains an official map displaying each county’s current level on its designated COVID-19 webpage, cv.nmhealth.org. To capture an average over a period of time that accurately conveys the state of the spread of the virus in each county, the agency updates this map every other Wednesday. Please note that the daily case count and test numbers provided by the Department of Health are raw data based on information the state receives each day – meaning data that has not yet been scrutinized to identify potential duplicates or late-arriving positives or negatives. By contrast, the Red Yellow Green county-level analysis provides a highly accurate picture for a two-week period of time.

How can my county move up to the next level?

By driving down the spread of the virus. This is accomplished by reducing in-person gatherings and person-to-person contact, particularly indoors, where the virus spreads more easily.

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. 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.

When can my county move to the next level?

The Department of Health updates its official map every other Wednesday. If a county meets the criteria for a less restrictive level, it may begin operating at that level with immediate effect. If a county falls out of compliance with the criteria for its current level, it will adopt the requirements of the next most restrictive level within 48 hours.

What do the Red, Yellow, Green and Turquoise Levels mean?

Each Level has a different set of standards depending on the spread of the virus within a community, as determined by COVID-19 public health data. The Red Level signifies very high risk; the Yellow Level signifies high risk; the Green Level signifies medium risk; and the Turquoise Level signifies low risk.

The categories and definitions for each risk level are available below and available at cv.nmhealth.org/redtogreen.

TURQUOISE LEVEL:

Counties at the Turquoise Level have both a new COVID-19 case incidence rate of no greater than 8 cases per 100,000 inhabitants during the two most recent 14 day reporting periods, and an average percent of positive COVID-19 test results over the two most recent 14 day reporting periods less than or equal to 5%.

Essential businesses (non-retail): No capacity restrictions but operations must be limited to only those absolutely necessary to carry out essential functions
Essential retail spaces: 75% of maximum capacity for indoor spaces and 100% outdoor

Food and drink establishments (if NM Safe Certified): 75% of maximum capacity for indoor dining; 75% of maximum capacity for outdoor dining

Close-contact businesses: 75% of maximum capacity; no restrictions on outdoor spaces
Large entertainment venues: 33% of maximum capacity for any indoor/enclosed space on premises; 75% of any outdoor space on premises
Recreational facilities: 50% of maximum capacity of any indoor/enclosed space on the premises; 75% of any outdoor space on premises
Bars and clubs: 33% of maximum capacity of any indoor/enclosed space on premises; 75% of any outdoor space on premises, where applicable
**All other businesses: 75% of maximum capacity indoors; no restrictions on outdoor spaces
Houses of worship: May hold religious services, indoors or outdoors, or provide services through audiovisual means, but may not exceed 75% of the maximum capacity of any enclosed space on the premises; may operate at 100% capacity outdoors
Places of lodging: No maximum occupancy restrictions for those that have completed NM Safe Certified training; 50% of maximum occupancy for all others; 15 guests maximum for vacation rentals
Mass gatherings limit: 150 persons

GREEN LEVEL:

Counties at the Green Level have both a new COVID-19 case incidence rate of no greater than 8 cases per 100,000 inhabitants during the most recent two-week period, and an average percent of positive COVID-19 test results over the most recent 14-day period less than or equal to 5%.

Essential businesses (non-retail): No capacity restrictions but operations must be limited to only those absolutely necessary to carry out essential functions
Essential retail spaces: 50% of maximum capacity (indoor and outdoor)

Food and drink establishments (if NM Safe Certified): 50% of maximum capacity for indoor dining; 75% of maximum capacity for outdoor dining

Close-contact businesses: 50% of maximum capacity (indoor and outdoor)

Large entertainment venues: 25% of maximum capacity for any indoor/enclosed space on premises; 50% of any outdoor space on premises

Recreational facilities: 25% of maximum capacity of any indoor/enclosed space on the premises; 50% of any outdoor space on the premises

Bars and clubs: 25% of maximum capacity of any outdoor space on premises, where applicable; indoor not permitted

**All other businesses: 50% of maximum capacity (indoor and outdoor)
Houses of worship: May hold religious services, indoors or outdoors, or provide services through audiovisual means, but may not exceed 50% of the maximum capacity of any enclosed space on the premises; may operate at 100% capacity outdoors
Places of lodging: 75% of maximum occupancy for those that have completed NM Safe Certified training; 40% of maximum occupancy for all others; 10 guests maximum for vacation rentals
Mass gatherings limit: 20 persons

YELLOW LEVEL:

Counties at the Yellow Level have either a new COVID-19 case incidence rate of no greater than 8 cases per 100,000 inhabitants during the most recent two-week period, or an average percent of positive COVID-19 test results over the most recent 14-day period less than or equal to 5%.

Essential businesses (non-retail): No capacity restrictions but operations must be limited to only those absolutely necessary to carry out essential functions
Essential retail spaces: 33% of maximum capacity (indoor and outdoor)

Food and drink establishments (if NM Safe Certified): 33% of maximum capacity for indoor dining; 75% of maximum capacity for outdoors dining; any establishment serving alcohol must close by 10 p.m. each night

Close-contact businesses: 33% of maximum capacity or 20 customers at one time, whichever is smaller; 33% of any outdoor space on the premises

Large entertainment venues: 25% of maximum capacity of any outdoor space on premises; indoor not permitted with the limited exception of operating up to 25% of maximum capacity for recording and broadcasting entertainment without any in-person audience

Recreational facilities: 33% of any outdoor space on the premises; indoor not permitted

Bars and clubs: May not operate
**All other businesses: 33% of maximum capacity (indoor and outdoor)
Houses of worship: May hold religious services, indoors or outdoors, or provide services through audiovisual means, but may not exceed 33% of the maximum capacity of any enclosed space on the premises; may operate at 100% capacity outdoors
Places of lodging: 60% of maximum occupancy for those that have completed NM Safe Certified training; 33% of maximum occupancy for all others; 5 guests maximum for vacation rentals
Mass gatherings limit: 10 persons

RED LEVEL:

Counties at the Red Level are those with a new COVID-19 case incident rate of greater than 8 cases per 100,000 inhabitants during the most recent two-week period and an average percent of positive COVID-19 test results over the most recent 14-day period greater than 5%.

Essential businesses (non-retail): No capacity restrictions but must limit operations to only those absolutely necessary to carry out essential functions
Essential retail spaces: 25% of maximum capacity (indoor and outdoor)

Food and drink establishments: No indoor dining permitted; 25% of maximum capacity for outdoor dining; any establishment serving alcohol must close by 9 p.m. each night

Close-contact businesses: 25% of maximum capacity or 10 customers at one time, whichever is smaller; 25% of any outdoor space on the premises

Large entertainment venues: May not operate

Recreational facilities: 25% of maximum capacity of any outdoor space on the premises; indoor not permitted

Bars and clubs: May not operate
**All other businesses: 25% of maximum capacity (indoor and outdoor)
Houses of worship: May hold religious services, indoors or outdoors, or provide services through audiovisual means, but may not exceed 25% of the maximum capacity of any enclosed space on the premises; may operate at 100% capacity outdoors
Places of lodging: 40% of maximum occupancy for those that have completed NM Safe Certified training; 25% of maximum occupancy for all others; 5 guests maximum for vacation rentals
Mass gatherings limit: 5 persons

What qualifies as an essential business, or a close-contact business, etc.?

The categories and definitions within the public health order are as follows:

Categories and definitions within the public health order:

Essential businesses: These are any business or nonprofit entity falling within one or more of the following categories:

• Health care operations including hospitals, walk-in-care health facilities, pharmacies, medical 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, drug and alcohol recovery support services, and medical supplies and equipment manufacturers and providers;
• Homeless shelters, food banks, and other services providing care to indigent or needy populations;
• Childcare facilities;
• Grocery stores, supermarkets, food banks, farmers’ markets and vendors who sell food, convenience stores, and other businesses that generate more than one-third of their revenue from the sale of canned food, dry goods, fresh fruits and vegetables, pet food, animal feed or supplies, fresh meats, fish, and poultry, and any other consumable food and drink products;
• Farms, ranches, and other food cultivation, processing, or packaging operations;
• Infrastructure operations including, but not limited to, public works construction, commercial and residential construction and maintenance, self-storage facilities, airport operations, public transportation, airlines, taxis, private transportation providers, transportation network companies, water, gas, electrical, oil drilling, oil refining, natural resources extraction or mining operations, nuclear material research and enrichment, those attendant to the repair and construction of roads and highways, gas stations, solid waste collection and removal, trash and recycling collection, processing and disposal, sewer, data and internet providers, data centers, technology support operations, and telecommunications systems;
• Manufacturing operations involved in food processing, manufacturing agents, chemicals, fertilizer, pharmaceuticals, sanitary products, household paper products, microelectronics/semiconductor, primary metals manufacturers, electrical equipment, appliance, and component manufacturers, and transportation equipment manufacturers;
• Services necessary to maintain the safety and sanitation of residences or essential businesses including security services, towing services, custodial services, plumbers, electricians, and other skilled trades;
• Veterinary and livestock services, animal shelters and facilities providing pet adoption, daycare, or boarding services;
• Media services;
• Automobile repair facilities, bike repair facilities, and retailers who generate the majority of their revenue from the sale of automobile or bike repair products;
• • Utilities, including their contractors, suppliers, and supportive operations, engaged in power generation, fuel supply and transmission, water and wastewater supply;
• Hardware stores;
• Laundromats and dry cleaner services;
• Crematoriums, funeral homes and cemeteries;
• Banks, credit unions, insurance providers, payroll services, brokerage services, and investment management firms;
• Businesses providing mailing and shipping services;
• Laboratories and defense and national security-related operations supporting the United States government, a contractor to the United States government, or any federal entity;
• Professional services, such as legal or accounting services, but only where necessary to assist in compliance with legally mandated activities; and
• Logistics and also businesses that store, transport, or deliver groceries, food, materials, goods or services directly to residences, retailers, government institutions, or essential businesses.

Retail spaces: These include any business that regularly sells good or services directly to consumers or end-users at the business location, which includes (but is not limited to) essential businesses like grocery stores, supermarkets, food banks, farmers’ markets, convenience stores, automobile repair facilities, bike repair facilities, hardware stores, laundromats, and dry cleaner services.

Food and drink establishments: These are restaurants, breweries, wineries, distillers, cafes, coffee shops, or other similar establishments that offer food or drink.

Close-contact businesses: These are barbershops, hair salons, tattoo parlors, nail salons, spas, massage therapy services, esthetician clinics and tanning salons.

Recreational facilities: These are any publicly or privately owned facility typically or actually used for recreational activities capable of bringing persons within close proximity of one another, including aquariums, amusement parks, arcades, basketball courts, baseball fields, bowling alleys, botanical gardens, family entertainment centers, football fields, go-kart courses, golf courses, guided raft and balloon tours, ice-skating rinks, museums with interactive displays or exhibits, miniature golf courses, ski areas, soccer fields, swimming pools, tennis courts, trampoline parks, youth programs, and zoos.

Bars and clubs: These are any business, other than breweries, wineries, and distilleries, that typically or actually generates more than half of its revenue from the sale of alcohol for on-premises consumption — including adult entertainment venues, nightclubs, and dance clubs, regardless of the source of their revenue.

Large entertainment venues: These are as any publicly or privately owned venue typically or actually used to host large audiences for the purposes of entertainment or amusement, including racetracks, concert venues, movie theaters, performance venues, professional sports venues and theaters.

Houses of worship: These are any church, synagogue, mosque, or other gathering space where persons congregate to exercise their religious beliefs.

Places of lodging:These are hotels, motels, RV parks, and short-term vacation rentals.

Mass gatherings: These are any public gathering, private gathering, organized event, ceremony, parade, funeral, or any other grouping that brings together a specified number of individuals in a single room or connected space, confined outdoor space, or open outdoor space. “Mass gatherings” do not include the presence of any number of individuals where those individuals regularly reside. “Mass gathering” does not include individuals who are public officials or public employees in the course and scope of their employment.

**All other businesses: These are any entities that are not identified explicitly as an “essential business,” “house of worship,” “recreational facility,” “large entertainment venue,” “food and drink establishment,” “bars or clubs” or “place of lodging”.” Examples would include non-essential retail spaces like a clothing store, a gym, a group fitness class or a personal training service, among others.

Why don’t I see my business or nonprofit identified in any of the categories of the public health order or in the “red-to-green” levels framework?

Any entities that are not identified explicitly as an “essential business,” “close-contact business,” “outdoor recreational facility,” “food and drink establishment,” “place of lodging” or “close-contact recreational facility” may operate under the following requirements for each county level:

• Red Level: At 25% of maximum capacity (indoor and outdoor)
• Yellow Level: At 33% of maximum capacity (indoor and outdoor)
• Green Level: At 50% of maximum capacity (indoor and outdoor)
• Turquoise Level: At 75% of maximum capacity of any indoor space and 100% capacity of any outdoor space

What can I leave the house for?

You really should not be leaving the house unless it’s an emergency or for an essential need. You can and should seek out emergency medical care if you need it. You can and should seek out a flu shot and, if you feel sick or have been exposed, a COVID-19 test. But gathering with other people, and making unnecessary trips outside of the house, is how the virus spreads. It’s within your control, in your day-to-day life, to protect yourself and those around you — and to help New Mexico continue to defeat COVID-19.

My child was attending school part-time in the hybrid model. Can they still go to school?

The public health order does not impact the state’s efforts to get public school students back into classrooms at a safe distance and in small groups. Students whose school districts have decided to operate hybrid learning may continue to attend classes — but parents should be advised that after-school and weekend activities, especially any activities without masks and with non-household members, are a venue for the virus to spread. School districts retain the authority to revert to or remain in a remote-only learning model for the safety of educators, parents, students and school communities.

As with public schools, private schools that have elected to conduct in-person learning may continue to operate with maximum occupancy restrictions provided in the public health order.

Can I travel out of state? Can I visit New Mexico right now?

From Containment Policy dated September 30, 2021 Quarantine if You Have Travelled to New Mexico From Outside the State All unvaccinated persons who have arrived in New Mexico from another state or from outside the United States are recommended to self-isolate or self-quarantine for a period of at least 10 days from the date of their entry into the State of New Mexico or for the duration of their presence in the State, whichever is shorter.

Vaccinated travelers who arrive in New Mexico from another state or from outside of the United States are not required to self-isolate or self-quarantine, and do not need to be tested after arrival unless symptoms develop. All travelers should continue to watch for symptoms for the full 14 days after arrival in NM and follow COVID-19 safe practices. If symptoms develop, immediately self-isolate and get tested.

Is this the law? What if a business or individual violates the state restrictions?

Yes, this is the law. The state Public Health Act and the Public Health Emergency Response Act authorizes the state Department of Health to declare a public health emergency and to enact restrictions on day-to-day activities in order to protect the health and safety of New Mexicans. The Department of Health, under the provisions of this law, may issue civil administrative penalties of up to $5,000 a day per violation of an emergency public health order. The state Supreme Court has upheld the authority of the state Department of Health in this matter. To report a violation of the emergency public health order, you may email covid.enforcement@state.nm.us or visit newmexico.gov and click on the orange button.

Are all swimming pools considered “recreational facilities”?

No, while swimming pools are listed as an example of a “recreational facility,” they are only subject to the restrictions for “recreational facilities” if they are “typically or actually used for recreational activities capable of bringing persons within close proximity of one another.” This being so, swimming pools that are used solely for non-recreational activities that do not bring individuals within close contact of each other, such as lane swimming for exercise, may continue to operate under the catchall category restrictions.

Does my business need to comply with the mass gathering restriction or the occupancy limits?

Businesses and non-profit entities, as well as local governments operating “large entertainment venues” and “recreational facilities,” should comply with the occupancy limits applicable to their categories rather than the mass gathering limit.

What does “maximum capacity” mean?

“Maximum capacity” means the maximum number of individuals allowed within a specified location, as determined by the relevant fire marshal or fire department. If the relevant fire marshal or fire department does not make such a determination, maximum capacity shall be determined by dividing the total square footage of floor space unoccupied by obstructions such as equipment and displays by thirty-six (36).

What state resources are available to me?

• For information about COVID-19 testing and other public health information, call the Department of Health coronavirus hotline at 1-855-600-3453. You may also visit cv.nmhealth.org for general COVID-19 information and togethernm.org for COVID-19 testing information.
• For mental health and behavioral health assistance, call 1-855-NMCRISIS (1-855-662-7474) or visit nmcrisisline.com.
• For assistance with COVID-19 health insurance questions and issues, to obtain health insurance, to obtain help if you have been denied coverage or inappropriately charged for COVID-19 testing or treatment, call the New Mexico Superintendent of Insurance COVID-19 health insurance call center at 1-833-415-0566 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday.
• For information about unemployment, visit jobs.state.nm.us and youtube.com/nmdws.
• To apply online for medical assistance (Medicaid), food assistance (SNAP),  cash assistance (TANF) and energy assistance (LIHEAP) visit: www.yes.state.nm.us.
• To report a violation of the state’s emergency public health order, visit the reporting portal on newmexico.gov or email covid.enforcement@state.nm.us.
• For emergency medical assistance, do not call the Department of Health information hotline — call 9-1-1.