Current NM Public Health ordered extended to 8/16/21

According to this news report. "However, in accordance with the latest official guidance from the CDC issued July 27, the State now recommends that fully vaccinated New Mexicans wear a face-covering in indoor settings. Albuquerque Public Schools, the University of New Mexico, and the VA Regional Offices have revised their mask policies, requiring masks for vaccinated people."

So it "recommends" the fully vaccinated wear masks indoors. That language doesn't sound like a blanket mask mandate for everyone though. It leaves open the unvaxxed to continue to go without masks. However the language of the latest Order makes clear the following:

"Fully vaccinated individuals are not required to wear a mask unless otherwise recommended by the latest official guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)." The latest CDC guidelines states: "To maximize protection from the Delta variant and prevent possibly spreading it to others, wear a mask indoors in public if you are in an area of substantial or high transmission." That language is unambiguous: It does not "recommend" it but says "wear a mask" in those defined areas. Those areas include Bernallilo and Santa Fe counties, among others.

So you know this is going to come down to the anti-maskers and anti-vaxxers saying it is not a mask mandate. And unfortunately they'll have a point. The CDC is clear; the extended NM health order is not. Good job NM for allowing Delta to continue to ravage our State with your vacuous hedging.