Lea County is officially “Going Green” based on the latest COVID-19 reports released by the New Mexico Department of Health.

For a county to qualify for a “Green” status in the state, the county must have eight or fewer daily COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents, and a positive test rate of five percent or lower, according to the New Mexico Department of Health.

However, being in the Green Zone does not mean that Lea County is totally free from abiding by state-mandated restrictions.

Essential businesses that are non-retail, like hospitals, have no capacity limits. However, essential retail businesses must be under 50 percent capacity, according to the NMDOH.

In addition, non-essential businesses can open with a maximum of 50 percent capacity.

Bars with outdoor seating can host a maximum of 25 percent capacity. Also, places of worship can provide religious services indoors or outdoors but cannot exceed 50 percent of their usual capacity.

New Mexico is still under a statewide emergency because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Residents are still required to wear a mask, social distance and wash their hands.

Over the border in Texas, the governor issued an executive order that allows individuals to be maskless in public as of March 10. While Texas removed all its state-mandated precautions, businesses there have the right to enforce that their employees and customers to wear face masks.

New Mexico on the other hand has a more gradual and localized response based on infection rates and total cases, leaving restrictions in the state based around the color-grading system established by the NMDOH.