Fraudulent mask cards being distributed

The New Mexico Department of Health reported last week fraudulent cards are being distributed to the public that assert the holder is exempt from wearing a facemask despite public health orders requiring it.

These cards falsely purport to be issued by the health agency and the U.S. Department of Justice. Anyone fraudulently creating and/or using these cards could be charged with a fourth-degree felony, officials said.

The card, prominently displaying both the Department of Health and U.S. Department of Justice logos, claims denial of the cardholder access to a business or organization despite not wearing a facemask will result in a fine — the opposite of current orders in the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The card is not officially recognized by the Department of Health. The U.S. Department of Justice has declared similar messaging to be fraudulent.

“People lying about a medical condition to get out of wearing a facemask literally puts their lives and that of those around them at risk,” Department of Health Cabinet Secretary Kathy Kunkel said. “New Mexicans deserve to feel safe out in public, and fraudulent messaging like this is both illegal and potentially dangerous to people’s health.”

COVID-19 is proving to cause unpredictable and potentially severe complications in random cases of otherwise seemingly healthy people to include damage to the heart, liver or kidneys. The virus is also known to cause severe illness for older adults or those with underlying conditions.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Health understand wearing masks may not be possible for some residents to include:

• The deaf or hard of hearing

• People with intellectual or developmental disabilities

• Younger children for extended periods of time

All residents are required to wear a mask or other multilayer face covering unless instruction from a healthcare provider can be provided, officials said.