New Mexico Register / Volume XXXIV, Issue 1 / January 18, 2023

 

 

EXECUTIVE ORDER 2023-001

 

 

RENEWING THE STATE OF PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY INITIALLY

DECLARED IN EXECUTIVE ORDER 2020-004, OTHER POWERS INVOKED IN

THAT ORDER, AND ALL OTHER ORDERS AND DIRECTIVES CONTAINED IN

EXECUTIVE ORDERS TIED TO THE ONGOING PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY

 

                On December 31, 2019, several cases of pneumonia with an unknown cause were detected in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, and reported to the World Health Organization ("WHO").  The underlying virus giving rise to those reported instances of respiratory illness was later identified as a novel coronavirus disease which has been referred to as "COVID-19."

                By the time the first COVID-19 cases had been confirmed in New Mexico, on March 11, 2020, COVID-19 had already spread globally and throughout the United States.  At that time, more than 100,000 people had been infected globally and there were more than 1,000 cases in the United States, spread out over 39 states.  The President of the United States declared a national state of emergency for COVID-19 on March 13, 2020.  As of January 5, 2023, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ("CDC") reported over 100.6 million people have been infected in the United States, with over 1,088,000 related deaths, and the New Mexico Department of Health has reported 660,424 positive COVID-19 cases and 8,842 related deaths in New Mexico.

                Public health organizations have implemented emergency measures intended to slow the spread of COVID-19.  For example, on January 20, 2020, the CDC activated its Emergency Operations Center in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.  The WHO declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern shortly thereafter.  All of our sister states subsequently declared a state of emergency and implemented significant measures and deployed substantial resources to fight the spread of COVID-19; many have kept such states of emergency in place.

                New Mexico has taken aggressive measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and to mitigate its impacts.  The Governor has been in frequent contact with federal and state agencies and officials who are coordinating their efforts and resources to fight COVID-19.  Various state agencies have been at the forefront of our State's response to COVID-19, particularly the New Mexico Department of Health.  The hard work of a variety of state employees has made a difference in our fight against COVID-19.  Due to the continued spread of COVID-19, it is necessary for all branches of State government to continue taking actions to minimize transmission of COVID-19 and to reduce its attendant physical and economic harms.

                Therefore, for the reasons above, I, Howie Morales, Lieutenant Governor of the State of New Mexico, and acting Governor pursuant to Article V, Section 7 of the New Mexico Constitution, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the State of New Mexico, hereby ORDER and DIRECT:

                1.             In consultation with the New Mexico Department of Health, I have determined that the statewide public health emergency proclaimed in Executive Order 2020-004, and renewed in Executive Orders 2020-022, 2020-026, 2020-030, 2020-036, 2020-053, 2020-55, 2020-059, 2020-064, 2020-073, 2020-080, 2020-085, 2021-001, 2021-004, 2021-010, 2021-011, 2021-012, 2021-023, 2021-030, 2021-044, 2021-049, 2021-054, 2021-058, 2021-061, 2021-067, 2022-004, 2022-007, 2022-012, 2022-016, 2022-024, 2022-067, 2022-109, 2022-115, 2022-120, 2022-131, 2022-147, 2022-149, and 2022-165 shall be renewed and extended through February 3, 2023.

                2.             All other powers, directives, and orders invoked in Executive Order 2020-004 remain in effect.

                3.             Unless previously rescinded, all other Executive Orders with a duration that was tied to the COVID-19 public health emergency or that was not explicitly stated shall continue with the same effect, including any orders appropriating emergency funding as well as Executive Order 2020-020.

                4.             This Order supersedes any previous orders, proclamations, or directives in conflict.  This Order shall take effect immediately, and shall remain in effect until February 3, 2023, unless renewed, modified, or rescinded.

 

 

ATTEST:                                                                               DONE AT THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE

                                                                                                THIS 6TH DAY OF JANUARY 2023

            / S /                                                                                  

MAGGIE TOULOUSE OLIVER                                   WITNESS MY HAND AND THE GREAT

SECRETARY OF STATE                                               SEAL OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO

 

                                                                                               / S /

                                                                                                HOWIE MORALES

                                                                                                LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR