Logan, NM – Today the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department’s (EMNRD) State Parks Division announces that several employees at Ute Lake State Park have tested positive for COVID-19. On Tuesday, August 11 during routine screening some employees reported a high temperature and were immediately sent home. The Park was closed out of an abundance of caution for the public’s safety and facilities are undergoing a thorough cleaning. The Park will be closed at least until August 25 as staff quarantine.

Staff at all State Parks have been wearing face coverings, gloves and maintaining social distance and cleaning facilities in line with CDC guidelines. Staff have also been encouraging and enforcing these guidelines with visitors for the safety of the public. 

All New Mexicans who believe they may have been exposed to COVID-19 are encouraged to self-isolate for 14 days and to get tested.

A complete list of testing sites and other information about COVID-19 is available at cv.nmhealth.org. People can pre-register for testing at Department of Health sites using this link: https://cvtestreg.nmhealth.org/.  

Thirty State Parks remain open for day-use only. Please “know before you go” and check our website for current hours, as many State Parks are currently operating under reduced hours and days of operation. Wearing a mask or cloth face covering is mandatory in public settings except when eating, drinking, or swimming or unless a healthcare provider instructs otherwise, and violators could face citations and $100 fines for not complying voluntarily. State Parks remain open to New Mexico residents only.

All current park information can be found on park webpages and on the FAQ page at www.nmparks.com.