[Editor's Note: This press briefing will be expanded upon in a future article. when slides are available.]

By Mary Alice Murphy

At today's press briefing by New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, due to a recent rise in the number of cases in the state as well as in surrounding states, she had made the wearing of masks no long voluntary, but mandated in public places, and "mandatory face-coverings in public will be aggressively enforced." Those who do not wear masks are liable for a $100 fine, as are the business owners who do not enforce the mandated wearing of masks. Businesses are also subject to OSHA violations, as well as the fine, and will be cited with a misdemeanor.

Anyone coming into the state from out-of-state must quarantine for 14 days before going into public. Grisham said if someone were pulled over for speeding and had out-of-state plates, if they could not show they had a mask ready to wear and were not quarantining, they will be cited for the speeding, the non-wearing of a mask and the not quarantining.  

Phase 2 of reopening is on hold.

Key takeaway: New Mexico is at grave risk of re-enacting certain public health restrictions in order to curb the spread of COVID-19.