Here’s the deal: We’re not ready to ease up. New Mexico will be extending its public health orders through at least May 15th.

Does that mean we haven’t made progress? No. If you are staying home, your actions have saved countless – truly countless – lives, & will save many more.

I want to be crystal clear: While we’re making progress, we are not yet out of the woods. We will not be able to reopen everything on May 16. The virus will not be gone on May 16. The pandemic will not be over. There is no magical date.

Between now & May 15 we will be in the preparation phase for a gradual & safe reopening of segments of our economy. The state will get direct input from business & employee groups in industries statewide – and we will make health-driven decisions about safe reopening procedures.

Pandemic recovery is not a flip of a switch; it’s the turn of a dial. No one wants to be locked down – everyone wants to hug their loved ones, we all want businesses to be able to open. But simply wanting this to be over will not get us there. And so – we will stay the course.