Governor orders additional restrictions

SANTA FE — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Monday afternoon ordered a series of additional restrictions on business operations to further prevent spread of COVID-19 — and she warned of increased enforcement efforts.

The new order, which took effect at 8 a.m. Tuesday, requires liquor stores and payday loan companies to close, saying they are no longer considered essential to the welfare of the state and its residents during the public health crisis. Auto dealers can only sell online.

The order also extends a shutdown of all nonessential businesses until April 30, and strongly urges residents to stay home except in the case of an emergency or to purchase necessities.

While grocery stores, pharmacies and retailers that sell household goods are allowed to remain open, they must allow no more than 20 percent of their normal capacity of customers inside at a time.

Customers waiting in line outside stores must maintain a 6-foot distance from one another to help stem the spread of the new coronavirus, which can cause the highly contagious respiratory illness COVID-19.

Hotels, motels and other places of lodging will be allowed to accommodate no more than 25 percent of their guest capacity.

“These measures will help us prevent a sudden spike in infections that would overwhelm our healthcare system,” the governor said in a news release Monday announcing the new order. “This virus is still spreading, and we must remain vigilant about physical distancing from one another. And we will ramp up enforcement of non-compliance.”

Nora Meyer Sackett, a spokeswoman for Lujan Grisham, said in email late Monday, “Bottom line, this will be enforced, and if people continue to congregate and flout the order, it will be enforced aggressively. There is authority to penalize violators of the act and we will use it. As the governor said in her statement, these are not friendly suggestions. New Mexicans should expect to see enforcement.”

New Mexico State Police Chief Tim Johnson has directed officers to educate businesses about the new rules and restrictions, Sackett said, and “allow them a reasonable opportunity to adapt.”

Those who refuse to comply could be charged with a petty misdemeanor and face a fine of up to $100, up to six months in jail or both, Sackett said.

“Civil penalties can be up to $5,000/violation,” she added.