Lincoln County in the turquoise level
The New Mexico Department of Health updated the county COVID-19 map Wednesday, May 5, with all but three counties in the state in the least restrictive Turquoise Level.
Lincoln County joined 30 other New Mexico counties in the Turquoise Level, signifying decreased virus risk.
Neighboring Chaves County was labeled yellow, the only county in the state at that level.
The DOH amended the state's Red-Yellow-Green-Turquoise framework last week as more people in the state are getting vaccinated. The new criteria require a county to report no more than 10 positive COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people within a 2 week period, an average of positive COVID-19 tests at 7.5% or less and a rate of at least 35% of people who are fully vaccinated.
Lincoln County met all two of the three criteria from April 20 to May 3. There were 18.70 cases per 100,000 people, a positivity rate of 5.47% and a fully vaccinated rate of 42.80%. This was the second bi-weekly map update the county met these criteria, which prompted the advancement to the least restrictive level.
Counties at the Turquoise Level will be shifted to a four-week update rather than biweekly.
This update means restaurants are allowed to operate at 75% both indoors and outdoors, large entertainment venues such as movie theaters can operate at 33% indoor capacity and 75% outdoor, and bars and clubs can operate at 33% of indoor capacity and 75% outdoor. Bars and clubs have been ordered closed since the onset of the pandemic, more than a year ago.
The limit on mass gatherings is also increased to 150 people.
Catron and Valencia Counties are at the Green Level. No counties are at the most restrictive Red Level.
While the state is showing progress toward vaccinations and slowing the spread of COVID-19, the DOH still encourages people to get tested for COVID-19 if they are presenting symptoms, if they traveled or if they spent time with others without facemasks.
Turquoise Level restrictions include:
- Essential businesses (non-retail): No capacity restrictions but operations must be limited to only those absolutely necessary to carry out essential functions
- Essential retail spaces: 75% of maximum capacity indoors; no restrictions on outdoor spaces
- Food and drink establishments (if NM Safe Certified): 75% of maximum capacity for indoor dining; 75% of maximum capacity for outdoor dining
- Close-contact businesses: 75% of maximum capacity; no restrictions on outdoor spaces
- Large entertainment venues: 33% of maximum capacity for any indoor/enclosed space on-premises; 75% of any outdoor space on-premises
- Recreational facilities: 50% of maximum capacity of any indoor/enclosed space on the premises; 75% of any outdoor space on-premises
- Bars and clubs: 33% of maximum capacity of any indoor/enclosed space on-premises; 75% of any outdoor space on-premises, where applicable
- All other businesses: 75% of maximum capacity indoors; no restrictions on outdoor spaces
- Houses of worship: May operate at 100% capacity indoors or outdoors should they so choose
- Places of lodging: No maximum occupancy restrictions for those that have completed NM Safe Certified training; 50% of maximum occupancy for all others; 15 guests maximum for vacation rentals
- Mass gatherings limit: 150 persons