Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham responded quickly to Gallup Mayor Louis Bonaguidi’s request May 3 to extend the lock down for an additional three days.
The emergency order that began May 1 at noon, will continue through noon, May 7 as part of the aggressive effort to slow the community spread of COVID-19 in Gallup.
The governor intends to formalize the extension of her emergency declaration on May 4. She also plans to amend the hours of business closures. Business curfew hours will mirror the curfew hours on the nearby Navajo Nation, from 8 pm to 5 am.
Gallup city police and the McKinley County sheriff’s department have partnered with New Mexico State Police and the Department of Transportation to enforce the order and road closures which were announced May1. The New Mexico National Guard has also provided support in a non-law enforcement capacity.
The Riot Control Act states in Section 12-10-17 – Proclamation of emergency that “Upon request of the mayor of a municipality or the sheriff of a county or a majority of the members of the governing body of the municipality or county having jurisdiction and after finding that a public disorder, disaster or emergency which affects life or property exists in the state, the governor may proclaim a state of emergency in the area affected.”
In Section 12-10-18 – Emergency restrictions: It says the governor may prohibit by proclamation any person being on public streets, parks or locations during specific hours; gatherings; the sale or purchase of or dispensing of alcoholic beverages; the use of certain streets and other activities to help maintain life, property or the public peace.
The emergency declaration closes all roads into Gallup, limits business hours, restricts the number of people who can travel in a vehicle at one time and directs residents to remain at home, outside of emergency outings.
Due to the heightened risk of transmission in the northwest region of the state, the New Mexico Secretary of Health’s public health order of April 11 remains in place in McKinley, Cibola and San Juan counties. Moderate easings of the order in the May 1 order do not apply in those counties.
As of May 3. McKinley County reported 1,144 positive cases of COVID-19.
