New Mexico COVID Store Restrictions

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New Mexico COVID Store Restrictions

Post by storewanderer »

NM seems to have unique laws relating to closing stores due to COVID. If a store had more than 4 positive "rapid responses" it can be subject to closure for two weeks.

Based on the below articles, they appear to be going ahead and closing stores in larger cities that meet the above criteria.

For stores that do get to stay open, they have a 75 person capacity limit. It appears this limit applies to a Wal Mart Supercenter the same way it would apply to a grocery store 1/4 the size?

https://www.lcsun-news.com/story/news/2 ... 343535002/
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Re: New Mexico COVID Store Restrictions

Post by dcpeachy »

75 shoppers or 25% of maximum capacity during our current Covid 19 reset--until 11/30. That applies to big box (and other stores) that get at least 1/3 of their revenue from food and drink. So, yes, a Walmart is capped, just like the Albertsons Market I went to today.
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Re: New Mexico COVID Store Restrictions

Post by storewanderer »

dcpeachy wrote: November 19th, 2020, 6:43 pm 75 shoppers or 25% of maximum capacity during our current Covid 19 reset--until 11/30. That applies to big box (and other stores) that get at least 1/3 of their revenue from food and drink. So, yes, a Walmart is capped, just like the Albertsons Market I went to today.
So this would not apply to mall stores?

Or Home Depot, etc.?

I'm not sure it would apply to most Target Stores either under those rules as I don't think many of them get 1/3 of their revenue from food and drink... though I could see them follow the guidelines to be cautious. A 75 person limit is better than a 0 person limit and a 2 week closure...
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Re: New Mexico COVID Store Restrictions

Post by rwsandiego »

New Mexico's aggressive stance is a result of its high COVID-19 infection rate. A friend who lives in Albuquerque has decided to decamp to San Diego for the next few months. Even if CA has to impose restrictions, the milder weather will allow her to at least go outside.
Last edited by rwsandiego on November 22nd, 2020, 9:20 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: New Mexico COVID Store Restrictions

Post by storewanderer »

rwsandiego wrote: November 19th, 2020, 10:16 pm New Mexico's aggressive stance is a result of its high COVID-19 infection rate. A friend who lives in Albuquerque had decided to decamp to San Diego for the next few months. Even in CA has to impose restrictions, the milder weather will allow her to at least go outside.
I understand that but I guess I don't see what closing the store for 2 weeks accomplishes unless it comes with other rules. Do all of those employees from the closed store have to not work for 2 weeks, or do you send them to another store (to go infect that store and cause it to close down)- does the regulation even address that issue? Because supposedly COVID is not transmitted from surface contact so it would not appear closing the building for 2 weeks accomplishes anything in that regard. And I don't see what imposing a 75 person limit on one big box because it sells food but not another big box because it doesn't sell food accomplishes. If you are going to do this limit then impose it on all big boxes.

I wonder how the various Tribes in New Mexico handle this as it would be up to each individual Tribe to make its own rules regarding these matters; they operate various businesses; restaurants, hotels, casinos, cinemas, bowling, retail stores, etc. in the more rural parts of the state.

At this point, we really need rules that are properly designed and well thought out and will actually show measurable results (positive results...). No more sloppy rules with holes. Sloppy rules with holes are what have gotten us to this point. General attitude I am seeing a lot of is people have had it with this COVID and the mitigation efforts- these mitigation efforts have gotten us to--record cases, so as a result, this segment of people is no longer taking it seriously, basically saying they don't even care if they catch it. That is certainly their choice but unfortunately it is likely to cause problems for the other large segment of people who are being careful...

So back to this New Mexico thing. At least in Albuquerque and Las Cruces you have weather in the 70's range in the daytime- so not awful to stand outside waiting for a store. Get up into Santa Fe or Taos with low 50's highs, rain, and it is another story. Folks will contract seasonal cold/flu standing out in the cold rain for an hour waiting to get into the store. One size does NOT fit all with these types of rules.
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Re: New Mexico COVID Store Restrictions

Post by pseudo3d »

In Las Cruces, the Walmart and an Albertsons have been ordered closed. Closing down large retailers like that would only cause people to go to other stores, potentially infecting them.
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Re: New Mexico COVID Store Restrictions

Post by storewanderer »

Carlsbad, NM Albertsons ordered closed for two weeks due to this NM rule. They are trying to get it re-opened as the other few grocery stores in that town are being overwhelmed but so far the NM State is holding firm on keeping the store closed.

This rule is a mess. Sorry State of NM but you need to figure something else out here. Not saying lift restrictions entirely but you need intelligent restrictions that are realistic and will really stop spread of virus. This isn't it. Forcing people to wait outside to shop for hours due to few stores open and a 75 person capacity limit isn't the answer.

https://www.currentargus.com/story/news ... 771259001/
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Re: New Mexico COVID Store Restrictions

Post by dcpeachy »

Malls and most other retail are closed. Hardware stores are exempted as they are considered essential--repairing broken whatever is an exception to the closures.

The number of positive cases has jumped by hundreds each day for the last week and as of yesterday, there were less than 100 total hospital beds available statewide. They actually reopened a closed hospital here for non-acute Covid care today. They've rented several hotels throughout the state to use as isolation/quarantine/recovery stations.

Costco has started personal shopping here--10(12?) items or less and they will shop for you. I looked to do curbside at the store I work at (not Costco), which normally has same day slots available if you give them at least 4 hours, and the earliest slots were 4 days out.

As for the closures after 4 positives within 14 days, those restrictions are on a case by case basis. The state is not going to shut down a store if it is the only place in town. However, some of complaints are coming from towns with multiple stores. Sometimes people are not going to be able to go to their favorite neighborhood store. The rationale for the shutdown is that the other employees in the stores, who presumably were exposed to the individuals who tested positive, need to be tested and self-isolate for 14 days.

I know it's not ideal, but we're pushing the limits of what this state can handle. We already had one of the worst ratios of hospital beds to population in the nation before Covid.
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Re: New Mexico COVID Store Restrictions

Post by jamcool »

NM has had mask requirements and on and off shutdowns since the Spring...apparently they didn’t work (like in Europe). Who is going into the hospitals? Age groups? Racial groups? Preconditions? Are they from out of country? (like El Paso)
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Re: New Mexico COVID Store Restrictions

Post by storewanderer »

dcpeachy wrote: November 20th, 2020, 3:10 pm Malls and most other retail are closed. Hardware stores are exempted as they are considered essential--repairing broken whatever is an exception to the closures.
That same thing is happening all over the place... my area clocked 600 new cases yesterday (though about 400 recoveries reported too). COVID testing facilities today have hundreds of cars lined up as they have the past couple weeks. This is out of control for sure.

Is Macy's open? The reason I ask is they issued an article today saying they are a COVID-essential business and all of their stores are currently open... So would Macy's be open but Kohl's, JCP, Dillard's, not be?

Even if the hardware big boxes are essential, which I would agree with, why are they not subject to the 75 person limit? What is the logic?

Also curious if all Costco Stores get 1/3 of revenue from food... perhaps they can run some creative math there and include gas sales in total store sales then I can guarantee they would not get 1/3 of revenue from food. And this is why this rule from NM is so full of holes, is not making anyone safer as there are many ways around the law, the closure order creates an entire host of new problems beyond the customer line-ups in inclimate weather (since the staff at a closed store can just go elsewhere during the closure if they aren't sick- why not just let them stay at the same store if they aren't sick)...

Better to spread people out among more buildings than force them into fewer buildings... I think?
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