Samuel Marcus, from California, and Mandi Makala of France walk by reopened businesses on the Santa Fe Plaza in this May file photo. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced Thursday the state would be easing a mandatory travel quarantine on some visitors. (Eddie Moore/Journal)
SANTA FE — New Mexico’s 14-day quarantine mandate for most incoming travelers, one of the strictest orders of its kind in the nation, is getting a facelift.
Starting Friday, most individuals entering New Mexico from 36 different states — including Arizona and Texas — and all foreign countries will still be subject to a revised travel quarantine order.
But the mandate is being lifted for those arriving from the remaining “lower-risk” states — including Colorado — that have recorded lower COVID-19 case growth and testing positivity rates in recent weeks.
In addition, anyone arriving in New Mexico that can show proof of a negative coronavirus test within three days before or after arriving in the state will be exempt from the revised quarantine order issued by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s administration
“In order to strike a balance between public health and ensuring New Mexicans can live and move safely in a COVID-positive world until the arrival of an effective and widely available vaccine, we have to make tough, strategic and data-driven decisions,” the governor said in a Thursday statement.
She also said the changes were aimed at keeping New Mexicans safe while also trying to ease restrictions to address a burgeoning economic crisis.
The travel quarantine mandate has come under criticism in some quarters for its impact on New Mexico’s tourism and hospitality industries, which have been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic.
In an interview last month, state Sen. Pat Woods, R-Broadview, said the travel quarantine order had also made things “just crazy” for residents of eastern New Mexico, who often travel into Texas for work and medical care.
For that reason, the governor last month added new exemptions for those who leave the state to obtain medical care and for residents who travel outside New Mexico for less than 24 hours due to parental responsibilities.
Other exemptions allowed under the travel quarantine order include military personnel, health care workers and those traveling for business purposes.
Meanwhile, the revised order that takes effect Friday will be similar to the model used by New York, which also has mandatory travel quarantine orders for incoming visitors from certain locations hit hard by the coronavirus outbreak.
New Mexico’s travel quarantine order has not been strictly enforced, as state officials have described as more of a deterrent.
Lujan Grisham issued her first travel quarantine order on March 27 and has now revised it several times since then.
The governor also announced Thursday changes to maximum hotel occupancy limits in a separate public health order.
Starting Friday, hotels that receive state approval will be able to operate at 75% of maximum occupancy — up from the current limit of 50%.
The Link LonkSeptember 04, 2020 at 02:46AM
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New Mexico eases travel quarantine order for some states - Albuquerque Journal
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