Shoppers embrace COVID safety practices last summer on Central. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

By Kirsten Laskey
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com

The hard work and diligence of Los Alamos County government, businesses and residents is paying off!

On Feb. 24, the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) elevated Los Alamos to green on its statewide COVID map.

According to a NMDOH press release, the new rating was determined by the state’s county-by-county system that uses key health metrics – the per-capita daily incidence of new COVID-19 cases and average COVID-19 test positivity within county borders – to determine the level of public health risk and requirement for each county.

As a result of its new level, the County can now do the following:

• 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: 50 percent of maximum capacity (indoor and outdoor)
• Food and drink establishments (if NM Safe Certified): 50 percent of maximum capacity for indoor dining; 75 percent of maximum capacity for outdoor dining
• Close-contact businesses: 50 percent of maximum capacity (indoor and outdoor)
• Large entertainment venues: 25 percent of maximum capacity for any indoor/enclosed space on premises; 50 percent of any outdoor space on premises
• Recreational facilities: 25 percent of maximum capacity of any indoor/enclosed space on the premises; 50 percent of any outdoor space on the premises
• Bars and clubs: 25 percent of maximum capacity of any outdoor space on premises, where applicable; indoor not permitted
• All other businesses: 50 percent of maximum capacity (indoor and outdoor)
• Houses of worship: May hold religious services, indoors or outdoors, or provide services through audiovisual means, but may not exceed 50 percent of the maximum capacity of any enclosed space on the premises
• Places of lodging: 75 percent of maximum occupancy for those that have completed NM Safe Certified training; 40 percent of maximum occupancy for all others; 10 guests maximum for vacation rentals
• Mass gatherings limit: 20 persons, 120 vehicles.

While the new rating is positive news, County Manager Harry Burgess told the Los Alamos Daily Post that this doesn’t bring significant changes to County operations.

“Yes, we have been discussing how the improved rating will affect County services within our senior management team meetings,” Burgess said.

However, he pointed out that government services are generally considered essential businesses, which means there are “no capacity restrictions, but operations must be limited to only those necessary to carry out essential functions.”

“Therefore, we will continue to perform certain business activities remotely (those not requiring in-person communication/activity),” Burgess said. “Obviously, many of our personnel have been working in their normal capacity throughout the pandemic (public safety, public works, utilities), and this will not change either.”

Still, some changes are expected in the County’s facilities and community services, he said.

“Probably the largest change will be for our various recreation facilities/community services, where the increased capacity limits may allow us to have a larger number of users present,” Burgess said. “We also anticipate that rentals of certain facilities will resume given that the guidance allows for a greater number of people to gather … it is worth noting that as other business activities reopen, our on-site staff numbers will similarly increase in order to accommodate the increase in demand for services. We will continue to monitor and adjust our in-person staff levels as the situation progresses and will be attempting to balance the need for County services with the continuing advice to maintain CSP’s (COVID safe practices) for the safety of our staff and the community.”

Community Services Department Director Cory Styron said he and his staff were “pleasantly surprised” by the new COVID scale, which he said is more generous than the previous one. With the addition of the turquoise rating, Styron said this opens some additional doors for the County.

With getting green, he said the County’s indoor facilities can now operate at 25 percent and its outdoor facilities can be open at 50 percent. He emphasized that despite being open to more people, COVID safe practices still need to be followed.

“We are making great progress but please don’t let your guard down,” Styron said.

Despite the restrictions, Styron said the community is appreciative with the County’s recreational services.
“They have been very appreciative with what we have been able to offer,” he said.

Whether it is reserving a swim lane at the aquatic center or signing up for a skating lesson at the ice rink, Styron said there has been a demand for recreational opportunities.
“We got a huge demand for our services throughout the pandemic and we are looking forward to opening more of our facilities and getting back to whatever our new normal is,” he said.

In addition to the County opening its facilities’ doors to more people, Atomic City Transit is resuming a few of its routes.

On Monday, the Atomic City Transit began offering fixed-route bus service for Routes 1 – downtown, 2M White Rock to Los Alamos via Main Hill, Route 4 North Community and Route 6 North Mesa. Dial-A-Ride continues to be provided for residents who live in areas were the closest regular routes are not yet running, and for residents who qualify for paratransit service. All these transportation services will be offered 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

“We’re pretty excited to see the regular bus routes running again,” Public Works Director Anne Laurent said.

She added that Atomic City Transit resumed these routes first in areas where demand has been the highest.

While the return of these routes is still new, Laurent said a slight increase for Atomic City Transit has been spotted. Previously, she said there were 80-100 trips per day. In the last month or so, trips increased to a high of 130.

As far as the numerous capital improvement projects occurring throughout the community such as the irrigation system at Los Alamos County Golf Course and the multi-generational pool at the aquatic center, Laurent said the pandemic has not hindered these projects’ schedules. She noted most of the work being done is occurring outside.

It wasn’t just the County that got some relief from the green level, local businesses are helped, too.

“I’m very encouraged for our small businesses,” Los Alamos Chamber Director Ryn Herrmann said. “Last Wednesday Los Alamos County moved into the green tier of the state’s reopening framework, which comes with less stringent COVID-19 restrictions and greatly helps our businesses. In the green level, restrictions allow 50 percent occupancy for indoor dining, recreation facilities, places of worship and almost all other businesses. Hotels that are safety certified can operate at 75 percent capacity. The state updates a map that shows each county’s designation every other Wednesday, based on case rates and test results over the most recent 14-day period.”

Los Alamos County had a current case rate of 6.4 per 100,000 and an average test positivity rate of 1.3 percent during the most recent two-week period, so both metrics have come down, she said.

“The next update will be on March 10,” Herrmann said. “If we can stay green for two continuous periods, then we will move into the new Turquoise level and be able to open up even more. As we are able to open up at these higher levels, our small business owners will find stability and consistency, and eventually be able to return to normal levels of operation. In order for this to happen though, we need to remain vigilant, continue to take precautions to slow the virus’ spread get vaccinated when able. We all must keep making safe choices in our day-to-day lives. I hope in the not-too-distant future we will reopen at full capacity, but until then please continue to support our local businesses so they will still be here! Shop safe and shop local!”