New Mexico Register / Volume XXXI, Issue 9 / May 5, 2020
EXECUTIVE
ORDER 2020-022
RENEWING
THE STATE OF PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY DECLARED IN EXECUTIVE ORDER 2020-004,
OTHER POWERS INVOKED IN THAT ORDER, AND ALL OTHER ORDERS AND DIRECTIVES
CONTAINED IN EXECUTIVE ORDERS TIED TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY
On December 31, 2019, several cases of pneumonia
with an unknown cause were detected in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, and
repo11ed to the World Health Organization ("WHO"). The underlying
virus giving rise to those rep011ed instances of respiratory illness was later
identified as a novel coronavirus disease which has been refeITed
to "COVID-19."
By the time the first COVID-19 cases had been confinned in New Mexico, on March 11, 2020, COVID-19 had
already spread globally and throughout the United States. At that time, more
than 100,000 people had been infected globally and there were more than 1,000
cases in the United States, spread out over 39 states.
On March 11, 2020, I issued Executive rder 2020-004, which declared a state of public health
emergency under the Public Health Emergency Response Act and invoked powers
provided by the All Hazards Emergency Management Act and the Emergency
Licensing Act. That public health emergency was declared for a period of 30
days.
Now, less than four weeks later, the world is
reeling from staggering increases in cases of COVID-19 and deaths related to
COVID-19. The WHO rep011s more than 1.2 million worldwide infections and at
least 67,5994 related deaths. According to the United
States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ("CDC"), at least
330,89 1 people have been infected in the United
States,
including
confirmed cases in every state, with at least 8,910 related deaths. The numbers
of cases and deaths are continuing to increase exponentially throughout many
parts of the world and in many parts of the United States. That is why the
President of the United States declared a national state of emergency for
COVID-19 on March 13, 2020.
The numbers have also risen dramatically in our
State since I declared a public health emergency. As of April 5, 2020, the New
Mexico Department of Health reported at least 624 confirmed cases of COVID-19
in New Mexico and at least 12 related deaths. There are confirmed cases of COVID-19
in 23 of New Mexico's 33 counties. Despite proactive measures taken by the
State and our citizens, these munbers are increasing
at a dangerous rate and COVID-19 is expected to continue its spread inNew Mexico.
Public health organization have
implemented emergency measures intended to slow the spread of COVID-19. For
example, on January 20, 2020, the CDC activated its Emergency Operations Center
in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. The WHO similar declared a Public Health
Emergency oflntemational Concern shortly thereafter.
Nearly all or our sister states have declared a state of emergency and
implemented significant measures and deployed substantial resources to fight
the spread of COVID-19.
New Mexico has taken aggressive measures to reduce
the spread of COVID-19 and to mitigate its potentially devastating effects. I
have been in frequent contact with federal and state agencies and officials who
are coordinating their efforts and resources to fight COVID-19. Various state
agencies have been at the forefront of our State's response to COVID-19,
including the New Mexico Department of Health. All State agencies are
undertaking efforts in response to this pandemic.
Due to the continued spread of the COVID-19, it is
necessary for all branches of State government to continue taking actions to
minimize the spread of COVID- 19 and to reduce its attendant physical and
economic harms.
Therefore, for the reasons above, I, Michelle Lujan
Grisham, Governor of the State of New Mexico, by virtue of the authority vested
in me by the Constitution and the laws of the State of New Mexico, hereby ORDER
and DIRECT:
1. In
consultation with the New Mexico Depaitment of
Health, I have determined that the statewide public health emergency proclaimed
in Executive Order 2020-004 is renewed and extended through April 30, 2020.
2. All
other powers invoked, directives, and orders contained in Executive Order 2020-004 remain in effect.
3. All
other Executive Orders with a duration that was tied to the COVID-19 public
health emergency shall continue with the same effect. This includes Executive Orders 2020-006,
-007, -008, -009, -010, -011, -013, -014, -015,
-016, -017, -018, -019, -020.
This Order supersedes any previou
s orders, proclamations, or directives in conflict. This Executive Order shall
take effect immediately and shall remain in effect until May 1, 2020 unless
renewed or until the Governor rescinds it.
ATTEST: DONE
AT THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE
THIS
6TH DAY OF APRIL 2020
/ S / WITNESS
MY HAND AND THE GREAT
MAGGIE
TOULOUSE OLIVER SEAL
OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO
SECRETARY
OF STATE
/ S /
MICHELLE
LUJAN GRISHAM
GOVERNOR