This map shows current color-coded designations for COVID risks and restrictions in each New Mexico county. Courtesy of New Mexico Department of Health.

 State of New Mexico report
Sandoval County can continue indoor dining, among other loosened restrictions, for at least another two weeks.
The county met the criteria to stay at the Yellow level for the second time.
Also, the State of New Mexico’s Red-Yellow-Green framework includes a new least-restrictive level where all categories of business can operate indoors with occupancy limitations, depending on the risk level of the activity, according to a state news release. A county will reach this least-restrictive level, the Turquoise level, by meeting key health criteria for two consecutive two-week periods.
Attaining the new Turquoise level after being the lone Green counties Feb. 10 are Catron, Harding, Sierra and Union.
Every county in the state now reports a test positivity rate below 10 percent, close to the threshold for moving to a less-restrictive level, according to the state.
Sandoval County remained Yellow, along with 18 other counties, including neighboring Bernalillo County. The other 17 Yellow counties are Chaves, Cibola, Colfax, Curry, Grant, Guadalupe, Hidalgo, Lea, Lincoln, Luna, Rio Arriba, Roosevelt, San Juan, San Miguel, Santa Fe, Socorro and Valencia.
Counties that met both of the health metric thresholds to operate at the Green level are De Baca, Los Alamos, Mora, Quay, Taos and Torrance counties.
Counties meeting neither of the health metric thresholds and operating at the Red level are Doña Ana, Eddy, McKinley and Otero counties. Doña Ana had reached Yellow with a positivity rate of 4.33 percent Feb. 10 but regressed, with a positivity rate of 6.77 percent Feb. 24.
Thirty of 33 counties saw their new per-capita daily case rate improve over the two-week period, and all but six counties saw their positivity rates improve, according to the state.
The public health order, the red-to-green framework, frequently asked questions and rates of positive tests and new cases are available at cv.nmhealth.org/redtogreen.
“I know New Mexicans are tired of COVID-19 — I am too,” said Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. “We have made very solid progress in recent weeks and months, and we have all together saved lives and protected our family members and neighbors.
“We have to keep it up. We’ve seen what happens when we ease up too quickly or let our guard down all at once — our hospitals fill back up and more New Mexicans lose their lives.”

Being Turquoise
• Essential businesses (non-retail): No capacity restrictions but operations must be limited to only those absolutely necessary to carry out essential functions.
• Essential retail spaces: 75 percent of maximum capacity (indoor and outdoor).
• Food and drink establishments (if NM Safe Certified): 75 percent of maximum capacity for indoor dining and outdoor dining.
• Close-contact businesses: 75 percent of maximum capacity; no restrictions on outdoor spaces.
• Large entertainment venues: 33 percent of maximum capacity for any indoor/enclosed space; 75 percent of any outdoor space.
• Recreational facilities: 50 percent of maximum capacity of any indoor/enclosed space; 75 percent of any outdoor space.
• Bars and clubs: 33 percent of maximum capacity of any indoor/enclosed space; 75 percent of any outdoor space, where applicable.
• All other businesses: 75 percent of maximum capacity indoors; no restrictions on outdoor spaces.
• Houses of worship: May hold religious services, indoors or outdoors, or provide services through audiovisual means, but may not exceed 75 percent of the maximum capacity of any enclosed space.
• Places of lodging: No maximum occupancy restrictions for those that have completed NM Safe Certified training; 50 percent of maximum occupancy for all others; 15 guests maximum for vacation rentals.
• Mass gatherings limit: 150 persons, or 200 vehicles.