“Unofficial Numbers” Put ABQ In The Yellow For Next Red-to-Green Update

Published February 5th, 2021 at 9:43 am, Last Updated February 5th, 2021 at 10:48 am

Data tracked by the City of Albuquerque show that Bernalillo County is on track to meet the requirements to move from “red” to “yellow” when the governor announces the state’s “red-to-green” list next Wednesday.

Under the state’s protocols, counties must have either a rate of 8 or fewer-per-100,000 positive case rate, or a COVID test positivity rate of under 5 percent in order to move from red to yellow, allowing more businesses to open with fewer restrictions, including indoor dining at 25 percent capacity.

During an update via YouTube earlier this week, Mayor Tim Keller shared the city’s current COVID testing rate which the city reports at 4.7 percent. The city was at 5.3 percent, just above the 5 percent threshold, at the last two-week check in from DOH. If the downward trend holds, Bernalillo County businesses could expand operations.

Keller cautioned that this data fluctuates daily. The state’s data is based on a rolling two-week average meaning how we behave this week could determine whether we open.

Under the state’s guidance, counties in the yellow category can allow businesses to open with fewer restrictions:

Yellow counties

• 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
• Food and drink establishments: 25% 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: 25% of maximum capacity or 20 customers at one time, whichever is smaller
• Outdoor recreational facilities: 25% of maximum capacity (unless required to have less capacity under the state’s COVID-Safe Practices)
• Close-contact recreational facilities: Remain closed
• All other businesses: 25% of maximum capacity or 125 customers at one time, whichever is smaller
• 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
• Places of lodging: 60% 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: 10 persons, 80 vehicles