◆ Governor halts nonessential medical services amid mask shortage.

Lujan Grisham also limits face mask sales, medical staffs have potential shortages

Facing a potential shortage of medical supplies like gloves and protective face masks, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s administration on Wednesday issued two new emergency public health orders limiting the use of such protective gear.

Medical-grade face masks, gloves and medical gowns are essential for preventing the spread of the novel coronavirus among emergency room doctors and nurses, but a nationwide shortage of such materials is meeting an increasing caseload of COVID-19 in New Mexico and nationwide.

“We’re going to do everything we can — everything

— to protect those on the front line of this war against COVID-19,” Lujan Grisham said in a statement.

“The doctors, nurses and others who are testing and treating these patients must be properly equipped; we owe them that,” the governor continued. “I have to make sure that if you need hospital care, we’re ready. And as we work to get more equipment from the federal government, we’re going to take steps to protect and judiciously use the resources we have now.”

The first new order temporarily shuts down “nonessential health services,” which can be paused for three months “without undue risk to the patients’ health,” according to the Governor’s Office. It’s meant to ensure personal protection supplies only go toward medical health professionals providing essential medical procedures. That could include elective surgeries.

The second order stops health care providers and medical suppliers from selling such equipment without approval from the New Mexico Department of Health.

Presbyterian Healthcare Services, which operates nine

hospitals, including one in Santa Fe, said in a statement it supports the governor’s decision to freeze elective surgeries and had been urging patients, prior to the new public health order, to delay elective surgeries and outpatient procedures that can be paused without any harm.

That includes bariatric surgeries and total joint replacements. Presbyterian is still performing urgent surgeries, the health care system said.

Lujan Grisham’s office also announced Wednesday that the state Emergency Operations

Center will be using an emergency alert system — similar to an Amber Alert — to issue “critical information directly to as many New Mexicans as possible.”

The alerts will come through text messages, television and radio. The first one was sent at 1:22 p.m. Wednesday.