Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-N.M.) lifted the state's mask mandate for most indoor public places in mid-February, except for in "congregate settings, including hospitals, long-term care facilities, and detention facilities," according to a press release from the governor's office.
"I want to express my gratitude to every New Mexican who has steadfastly worn a mask, gotten vaccinated, and done everything in their power to protect their neighbors, as well as the heroic health care and frontline workers who have courageously supported our communities during this uncertain time," Lujan Grisham said in the release.
She continued, "Given the continued drop in hospitalizations and the lessening of the burden on our hospitals, it’s time to end the mask mandate. With vaccines, boosters, and effective treatment options widely available, we have the tools we need to protect ourselves and keep our fellow New Mexicans safe."
In regards to schools, the decision to continue with the mandate or not has been left up to the governing bodies of each school, the release said.
Although the mask mandate was lifted, New Mexicans are still required to obey social distancing protocol.
The order came as a surprise, since a New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) spokesperson said on Jan. 31 that case counts were still high, KRQE reported.
"Right now, our case counts continue to be really high, and with the highly transmissible Omicron variant comprising nearly 100% of the infections, now is not the time to stop wearing masks," the unnamed NMDOH spokesperson said to KRQE. "In fact, we are urging folks to upgrade to more protective masks if possible. We are developing a plan to distribute N95 and KN95 masks for free."
More than 85% of New Mexicans had received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by mid-February, according to the governor's office.