Update: Mayor Issues Executive Orders in Response to COVID-19 - March 16, 2020
RUIDOSO, NM – March 16, 2020 – Mayor Lynn Crawford has issued two Executive Orders in response to Coronavirus (COVID-19). Executive order 2020-01 gives direction regarding employee non-essential work-related travel and non-work-related travel. Executive Order 2020-02 accelerates remote-work initiatives and temporarily adjusts and suspends certain functions in order to minimize public health risks related to COVID-19.
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham issued a directive to all state agencies and local governments to implement telework policies and take other steps to limit person-to-person contact. The Village of Ruidoso has a commitment to ensure employee and public safety in light of the COVID-19 outbreak. The Village of Ruidoso is making adjustments to their operations and will practice social distancing procedures effective Tuesday morning, March 17, 2020.
Some of these adjustments included:
The suspension of all non-essential work-related travel; personal out-of-state travel is discouraged for employees.
Setting up phone meetings or online meetings rather than in-person meetings.
Closing the Ruidoso Community Center and Ruidoso Convention Center to the public.
Closing the Ruidoso Public Library to the public. The following modified services will be provided: streaming of storytime programming online, eBooks, book delivery within the Village of Ruidoso, and YouTube programs.
Ruidoso Parks and Recreation have canceled all organized activities but will continue to maintain open spaces (Grindstone and Alto Lake). Staff will increase the level of service to the public restrooms.
Limiting staff within Village hall and moving to the alternative of a remote model of service. Through the improvement plan process those employees that have been identified to work remotely from home.
“Through these executive orders the Village will continue to provide a robust set of services to people throughout the Village while limiting the opportunity for person-to-person contact,” said Mayor Lynn Crawford. “Public health experts advise that social distancing is the most important strategy for containing and mitigating the spread of COVID-19 and the Village of Ruidoso is following the directive from the New Mexico Department of Health.”
New Mexico state health officials announced 21 cases of COVID-19 in New Mexico on Monday, March 16, 2020.
The governor and Department of Health are urging New Mexicans to:
Remain home from work or school if you are sick.
Avoid all non-essential travel to affected out-of-state areas, and exercise extreme caution with all out-of-state travel.
Remain home (“self-isolate”) if you are sick and call the Department of Health Coronavirus Hotline at 1-855- 600-3453 if you are exhibiting any of the symptoms of COVID-19. Those symptoms include fever, cough or trouble breathing.
Continue to take precautionary steps to protect your health and the health of others, such as:
Washing your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
Clean “high-touch” surfaces daily with regular household cleaners.
Avoid sharing personal household items.
The Village will continue to provide new updates from NMDOH on the Village of Ruidoso website (https://ruidoso-nm.gov/coronavirus-covid-19) and on our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/villageofruidoso/).
In addition, other valuable resources that are constantly being updated are available at the CDC website (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html) and the New Mexico Department of Health website (https://cv.nmhealth.org/).
