,
More than 2,000 New Mexico businesses and public facilities have reported on-site COVID-19 cases to the state during the first three weeks of February, according to new data released by the environment department. That is down by almost half from the same period in January when 4,100 cases were reported.
Under public health orders in New Mexico, businesses with on-site positive tests must report those cases to the Environment Department which coordinates a review of the business’ worker safety and testing programs.
Businesses with 2 or more cases on site in a 14 day period are placed on the state’s watchlist.
Each week, NMED updates the public watchlist and list of on-site positive tests through a public dashboard, but businesses are not required to disclose to customers or visitors that they are on the list.
New Mexico news you can use (for free).
Try a free subscription to The Paper for weekly updates on COVID, vaccine rollout and New Mexico news.
The presence of a positive case among an employee does not necessarily indicate that others face a higher risk of infection, but businesses with repeat cases or that fail to follow NMED guidelines for safety may be closed for up to 14 days.
Two businesses were ordered closed so far this month:
| HOME DEPOT | 3560 E MAIN ST | FARMINGTON | SAN JUAN | 2/11/2021 | 2/26/2021 |
| MESILLA VALLEY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL | 3850 STERN DRIVE | LAS CRUCES | DONA ANA | 2/4/2021 | 2/18/2021 |
Mesilla Valley Christian School in Las Cruces closed on February 4 and reopened February 18. The Home Depot in Farmington remains closed through Friday of this week.
See the full Watchlist on NMED’s website.
MORE COVID + NEW MEXICO COVERAGE FROM THE PAPER.
Veep Tests Positive for COVID-19, Biden Not ‘Close Contact’
By ZEKE MILLER Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday, the White House announced, underscoring the persistence of the highly contagious virus even as the U.S. eases restrictions in a bid to return to pre-pandemic normalcy. Neither President Joe Biden nor first lady Jill Biden was considered…
New Mexico Confronts a Deluge of Pandemic-Related Utilities Shutoffs
A PNM lineman stood outside Rebeca Kueber’s mobile home in Tesuque, about to cut off her service. The single mother of five had received several past-due notices in the mail in the months prior, a burden that got heavier and heavier with each new balance. Kueber had left a steady job as hostess at La…
State Asks Thousands of New Mexicans to Return Unemployment Benefits
Yohanna Gerges, 48, was working as a full-time Lyft and Uber driver in Albuquerque before the pandemic began. But in the spring of 2020, business dropped sharply and he developed a lung infection that wasn’t due to COVID-19, but still left him with long-term symptoms. In April, he filed for unemployment and began receiving $461…
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.