New Mexico Register / Volume XXXI, Issue 18 / September 29, 2020

 

 

EXECUTIVE ORDER 2020-064

 

 

RENEWING THE STATE OF PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY INITIALLY

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 ONGOING PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY

 

                On December 31, 2019, several cases of pneumonia with an unknown cause were detected in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, and reported to the World Health Organization ("WHO").  The underlying virus giving rise to those reported instances of respiratory illness was later identified as a novel coronavirus disease which has been referred to as "COVID-19."

                By the time the first COVID-19 cases had been confirmed 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.  The President of the United States declared a national state of emergency for COVID-19 on March 13, 2020. As of September 17, 2020 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ("CDC") reported over 6.65 million people have been infected in the United States, with over 190,000 related deaths, and the New Mexico Department of Health has report over 26,000 positive COVID-19 cases and 830 related deaths in New Mexico.

                Public health organizations 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 declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern sho11ly thereafter.  All of 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 impacts.  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, particularly the New Mexico Department of Health.  The hard work of a variety of state employees has made a difference in our fight against COVID-19.  Due to the continued spread of COVID-19, it is necessary for all branches of State government to continue taking actions to minimize transmission 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 laws of the State of New Mexico, hereby order and direct as follows:

                1.             In consultation with the New Mexico Department of Health, I have determined that the statewide public health emergency proclaimed in Executive Order 2020-004, and renewed in Executive Orders 2020-022, 2020-026, 2020-030, 2020-036, 2020-053, 2020-55, and 2020-059 shall be renewed and extended through October 16, 2020.

                2.             All other powers, directives, and orders invoked 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 or that was not explicitly stated shall continue with the same effect, including any orders appropriating emergency funding and the following orders: Executive Order 2020-012; Executive Order 2020-016; Executive Order 2020-020; Executive Order 2020-021; Executive Order 2020-025; Executive Order 2020-037; Executive Order 2020-039; Executive Order 2020-056 and Executive Order 2020-063.

                This Order supersedes any previous orders, proclamations, or directives in conflict. This Executive Order shall take effect on September 18, 2020 and shall remain in effect until October 16, 2020 unless renewed or until the Governor rescinds it.

 

ATTEST:                                                                               DONE AT THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE

                                                                                                THIS 18TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER 2020

 

MAGGIE TOULOUSE OLIVER                                      WITNESS MY HAND AND THE GREAT

SECRETARY OF STATE                                  SEAL OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO

                                                                                                MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM GOVERNOR