17 Feb 2021 | 10:13 PM UTC
US: State of New Mexico lifts COVID-19 travel restrictions as of Feb. 17 /update 23
Officials in New Mexico, US, lift mandatory travel restrictions as of Feb. 17 due to decreasing COVID-19 infections.
Event
A statewide decrease in COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations has prompted authorities in New Mexico to lifted their mandatory travel restrictions for individuals entering the state as of Feb. 17. Under the new guidelines, travelers entering New Mexico from another US state or territory, or from a foreign country, are strongly advised to self-quarantine for 14 days upon arrival and to obtain a COVID-19 test as soon as possible. However, the quarantine and test are no longer compulsory.
Otherwise, New Mexico's existing business and gathering restrictions remain in effect. The state uses a three-tier color-coded system for categorizing counties by the level of COVID-19 activity and assigning localized restrictions accordingly. The three tiers are Green, Yellow, and Red, in order of increasing risk of virus transmission. For details on restrictions imposed at each level, click here.
New Mexico's individual counties will remain at the corresponding levels shown below through at least Feb. 24:
Green Level: Catron, Harding, Sierra, and Union.
Yellow Level: Bernalillo, Cibola, Colfax, Curry, Dona Ana, Grant, Guadalupe, Los Alamos, Mora, Quay, Sandoval, San Miguel, Santa Fe, Taos, and Valencia.
Red Level: Chaves, De Baca, Eddy, Hidalgo, Lea, Lincoln, Luna, McKinley, Otero, Rio Arriba, Roosevelt, San Juan, Socorro, and Torrance.
Authorities review the status of each county every two weeks and may recategorize jurisdictions based on current epidemiological data.
Statewide, individuals must continue to wear protective face coverings in public settings. Close-contact recreational businesses, such as movie theaters and concert venues, remain closed.
Authorities could reimpose, extend, further ease, or otherwise amend any restrictions with little-to-no notice depending on disease activity over the coming weeks.
Advice
Heed instructions from the authorities. Confirm business appointments in advance.
Resources
World Health Organization - COVID-19
