During a Thursday, February 17 news conference about the ending of New Mexico’s 30-day 2022 legislative session, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham announced the lifting of the state’s requirement for people to wear face coverings in most indoor settings. 

The governor’s surprise announcement is effective immediately and covers all New Mexicans age two and older regardless of vaccine status. A new public health order (PDF) reflects the new guidelines.

To bring special attention to the significance of the lifting of New Mexico’s indoor mask mandate, the governor conducted when she made the announcement a “ceremonial removal of the masks with other lawmakers at the Roundhouse,” states a KOB 4 news report. New Mexico’s seat of government is nicknamed the “Roundhouse”, as it is the only “round state capital in the United States”. 

Masks Still Required in Congregate Settings 

A Thursday, February 17, press release from the governor’s office notes that certain venues still require the use of a mask. “The indoor mask mandate remains in effect for congregate settings, including hospitals, long-term care facilities and detention facilities.” 

School Districts

Gov. Lujan Grisham’s February 17 directive, additionally, provides New Mexico school districts and day care centers with the ability to make their own decisions about retaining or suspending mask requirements.

Lea County School Districts

Some school districts in Lea County have already announced updated mask policies in response to the governor’s directive. 

• At Eunice High School masks are no longer required for students, staff and visitors. The public is asked to “‘please continue to follow good health practices, don’t come to school if you are sick and get tested as needed,'” reports KOAT 7 Action News. 

• Hobbs Municipal Schools (HMS) has announced on its Facebook page that in accord with Gov. Lujan Grisham’s lifting of the indoor face covering mandate, the wearing of face masks in the district’s schools is optional, effective, Friday, February 18.
  
  HMS Superintendent Gene Strickland states that the district’s decision to make mask wearing optional was made after consultation with members of the Hobbs School Board and because coronavirus case numbers are declining. Strickland said, “It’s [a] major step towards normality.”
  
  Supt. Strickland went on to state on Facebook that many staff and students may choose to continue to wear masks as a safety measure. “I think at this point in the pandemic, masks are so common place in our culture that there is no judgment about the people who wear or don’t wear them.”
  
  Supt Strickland also said that the district’s mask requirement could be reinstated at some point in the future should an uptick in coronavirus cases occur. 

• Lovington Municipal Schools (LMS) is quoted by KOAT 7 Action News as saying, “The health and safety of our Lovington Wildcats remains a top priority of our district; however, at this time Lovington Schools will no longer require masks to be worn while on school premises.”
  
  LMS Superintendent Lee White writes in a statement posted on the district’s Facebook page that LMS “… will support the wearing of masks as an option for public health.” White adds, “Please respect those that wish to continue wearing masks in public, it remains an individual option to do so.” 

In the February 17 press release Gov. Lujan Grisham thanks each and 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.”

Gov. Lujan Grisham’s action follows the course that many US state governors have recently taken. Before the governor’s announcement on Thursday, New Mexico stood alone with Washington, Illinois, Hawaii and Puerto Rico in maintaining public mask mandates. On the same day that Gov. Lujan Grisham lifted New Mexico’s mask mandate, Washington Governor Jay Inslee announced the lifting of his state’s mask mandate effective March 21.

The United States chief medical advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci is quoted in the Washington Post as saying that the country “is on the road to approaching normality”.

Photo by Polina Tankilevitch // Pexels