User:CountingKoalas/sandbox/USANewMex

May

 * May 1 - 7 : Gov. Lujan-Grisham invokes the state's Riot Control Act ordering a lockdown on the city of Gallup which has some the state's highest infection rates. From May 1 to May 5, the number of cases grew from 3,513 total cases to 4,138There were 104 new cases, bringing the statewide total to 3,513 total cases. Eight more deaths are reported bringing the death total to 131. Cases are reported in MKinley, San Juan, Bernalillo, Doña Ana, Sandoval, Otero, Socorro, Chave, Cibola, De Baca, Rio Arriba, Lea, Valencia, Curry, Eddy, Grant, Luna, San Miguel, and SantaFe counties.   On May 5, Gov. Lujan-Grisham sets new face covering requirements for employees beginning May 6 as businesses prepare to reopen.
 * May 15: Governor Lujan-Grisham signs a modified public health order that eases restrictions allowing all retailers to reopen at 25 percent capacity while requiring everyone to wear a face mask in public unless eating, drinking, or exercising. This order will be in effect through May 31.
 * May 20: Gov. Lujan-Grisham states that the state is on track to open dine-in services, salons, gyms, malls, and other services by June 1. New Mexico is reported to be one of two states on target to meeting Phase I criteria set by the CDC.

Schools
On March 12 the governor announced that all public schools in the state would be closed for three weeks beginning at the end of the school day on March 13. On March 27 it was announced that schools would remain closed for the rest of the academic year. New education plans are in development including online or paper packets sent by mail as well as educational programs being developed for PBS stations beginning on April 6. Plans to determine "demonstrations of competency" for graduating seniors are also being worked out. Some school teachers will also receive training for new "distance learning" programs such as virtual classrooms.

American Indian
As of mid-May 2020, Native Americans comprise about 11% of New Mexico's population but made up a large proportion of positive cases of COVID-19 in New Mexico. Nearly 60% of the state's reported cases were from tribal communities, with Navajos comprising 45% of New Mexico's positive cases. Roughly 50% of all COVID-19 fatalities in New Mexico were Native American.

In response to the spread of COVID-19, the Navajo Nation closed their tribe-operated casinos in mid-March with plans to open in June 2020. The Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise reported that casino employees would still receive pay and benefits. Other operations of the Navajo Nation, such as public services through the judicial branch, would be provided electronically through July.