County moves to green – again

Taos County moved Wednesday (March 24) to the ‘green phase’ under the state’s ‘red-to-turquoise’ reopening plan by achieving a positivity rate of less than 5 percent and a case average of less than 2.64 per day over a two-week period. The county had been at the yellow phase for the past two weeks.

At the green level, businesses are able to move back to less restrictive capacity limits. Essential retail spaces will move from 33 percent capacity to 50 percent capacity, while food and drink establishments will be allowed to operate at 50 percent indoor capacity and 75 percent outdoor capacity. Close-contact businesses like barber shops, as well as all other businesses can operate at 50 percent capacity.

Large entertainment venues like movie theaters and concert venues which were allowed to open in Taos for two weeks before, will be allowed to operate at 25 percent indoor capacity, and 50 percent outdoor capacity.

Bars – defined as any establishment making more than 50 percent of their annual income from alcohol (not including breweries and wineries, which fall under the food and drink category) – will be able to open at 25 percent outdoor capacity and will be allowed to use the indoor spaces for employee operations only.

Recreational facilities like swimming pools, bowling alleys and basketball courts can operate at 25 percent indoor capacity and 50 percent outdoor capacity

Houses of worship can now operate at 50 percent capacity, and other mass gatherings are now limited to 20 people and 120 vehicles.

Hotels and other lodging facilities can operate at 75 percent capacity if they are NM Safe Certified, and vacation rentals can now have 10 guests.

In order for Taos County to move to the turquoise phase in the reopening plan, the county must maintain the current low positivity rate of less than 5 percent and a case average of less than 2.64 per day for two consecutive biweekly map updates. In other words, the county must stay in the green phase for a month.

Throughout the state, numbers are continuing to decline, with 13 counties now in the turquoise phase, 10 in the green phase, and 10 in the yellow phase. No counties are in the red phase.

Grim Milestone

Taos County marked its 50th death from COVID-19 this week. Though details are still being released, the county did say the resident was a longtime Taos resident who did have underlying conditions.

One Million Doses!

Last week, New Mexico celebrated one million COVID vaccine doses administered.

According to the CDC, New Mexico remains first in the nation in two important categories: vaccine administration by population and efficiency in distribution (percentage of doses used). As of March 15, 37.4 percent of New Mexicans 16+ have received at least a first shot, and 22.4 percent are fully vaccinated.