State to amend guidance for small groups in exercise settings, outdoor activities

[Skip to content](#main-content)

# PRESS RELEASES

1. [Home](https://www.governor.state.nm.us) 2. [Press Releases](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/press-releases/) 3. State to amend guidance for small groups in exercise settings, outdoor activities

# State to amend guidance for small groups in exercise settings, outdoor activities

Sep 17, 2020 | [Press Releases](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/press-releases/)

SANTA FE – Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Thursday announced the state will update its guidance within the emergency public health order to permit small groups in exercise settings and safe outdoor activities for New Mexicans.

An amended emergency public health order, which will be effective through mid-October, will permit youth sports conditioning and skills development, with no more than 10 individuals in any one group, **[in accordance with COVID-Safe Practices](https://cv.nmhealth.org/covid-safe-practices/covid-safe-practices-for-youth-sports-and-programs/)**. Competitive contact play remains off-limits.

In addition, New Mexicans may overnight camp at most state parks in groups of no more than 10. That change will be effective Oct. 1.

Other changes include:

* Pick-your-own pumpkin patches will be permitted to operate in accordance with **[COVID-Safe Practices](https://cv.nmhealth.org/covid-safe-practices/agritourism-establishments/)** for agri-tourism businesses * Ice skating rinks may operate for athletic training and practice by reservation only * Swimming pools may open with no more than 10 individuals in a pool at any one time; previously swimming pools were permitted only to provide lane swimming.

The state’s full complement for COVID-Safe Practices for different industries and activities, compiled with the assistance of the Economic Recovery Council and industry leaders, [**is available here**](https://cv.nmhealth.org/covid-safe-practices/).

“We all want to keep making progress in combating the virus,” said Gov. Lujan Grisham. “New Mexicans have done incredible work. These changes are hopefully an opportunity for families and kids to safely enjoy more activities. But we’ve got to keep making the right decisions – keep wearing face coverings, keep avoiding large groups and contact with others – and avoid a false sense of security. The results are clear: A safer state, safer communities and fewer dangerous illnesses in New Mexico. We can keep up the great work, I am confident, and my goal will be to make additional moves in this direction this fall.”

The amended emergency public health order will be effective Friday, Sept. 18 and distributed upon its execution Friday.

New Mexico’s progress in slowing the incidence and spread of COVID-19 has continued, with the statewide 7-day rolling average of daily cases at 90 as of Sept. 15, well below the gating **[criteria target of 168](https://cvmodeling.nmhealth.org/public-health-gating-criteria-for-reopening-nm/)**. The statewide rate of spread, or r-effective, remains below 1, meaning the virus is spreading slower and not exponentially. Although the state’s COVID-19 hospitalizations remain significantly lower than earlier this summer, the southeast region made up the highest percentage of hospital admissions last week, [**according to the state Medical Advisory Team**](https://cvmodeling.nmhealth.org/).

**COVID-19 TESTING:**

The state of New Mexico would like to remind residents that testing for COVID-19 is free and available to all at Department of Health offices and testing sites, many of which have expanded hours of availability. Information about those sites is available at [**cv.nmhealth.org**](https://cv.nmhealth.org/).

**CENSUS:**

The state also reminds New Mexicans that a complete count of state residents for the 2020 Census is essential to ensuring billions in federal funds — for education, food assistance, roadway infrastructure, health care and more – are provided for New Mexicans over the next decade. The Census is simple, secure and important – **please visit** [**my2020census.gov**](http://my2020census.gov) **to complete the form or call 844-330-2020**.

#### Recent Posts

*  [Governor appoints Rebecca Roose as Natural Resources Trustee](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2026/06/05/governor-appoints-rebecca-roose-as-natural-resources-trustee/)  * [U.S. Supreme Court approves Rio Grande compact settlement – Agreement ends 13-year interstate dispute](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2026/05/28/u-s-supreme-court-approves-rio-grande-compact-settlement-agreement-ends-13-year-interstate-dispute/)  * [Health care loan repayment expands to address doctor shortage – Record expansion part of strategy to add health providers in NM](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2026/05/26/health-care-loan-repayment-expands-to-address-doctor-shortage-record-expansion-part-of-strategy-to-add-health-providers-in-nm/) * [Governor declares statewide drought and severe fire conditions – Agencies will coordinate community and water protection efforts](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2026/05/20/governor-declares-statewide-drought-and-severe-fire-conditions-agencies-will-coordinate-community-and-water-protection-efforts/)    * [Governor Lujan Grisham leads trade mission to Japan](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2026/05/11/governor-lujan-grisham-leads-trade-mission-to-japan/)

## Press Release Archive

* [June 2026](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2026/06/) (1) * [May 2026](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2026/05/) (6) * [April 2026](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2026/04/) (5) * [March 2026](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2026/03/) (10) * [February 2026](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2026/02/) (21) * [January 2026](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2026/01/) (10) * [December 2025](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2025/12/) (7) * [November 2025](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2025/11/) (6) * [October 2025](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2025/10/) (11) * [September 2025](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2025/09/) (11) * [August 2025](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2025/08/) (7) * [July 2025](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2025/07/) (9) * [June 2025](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2025/06/) (10) * [May 2025](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2025/05/) (4) * [April 2025](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2025/04/) (12) * [March 2025](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2025/03/) (13) * [February 2025](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2025/02/) (11) * [January 2025](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2025/01/) (11) * [December 2024](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2024/12/) (5) * [November 2024](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2024/11/) (9) * [October 2024](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2024/10/) (10) * [September 2024](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2024/09/) (16) * [August 2024](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2024/08/) (9) * [July 2024](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2024/07/) (13) * [June 2024](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2024/06/) (17) * [May 2024](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2024/05/) (5) * [April 2024](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2024/04/) (9) * [March 2024](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2024/03/) (13) * [February 2024](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2024/02/) (19) * [January 2024](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2024/01/) (13) * [December 2023](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2023/12/) (10) * [November 2023](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2023/11/) (8) * [October 2023](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2023/10/) (13) * [September 2023](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2023/09/) (6) * [August 2023](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2023/08/) (9) * [July 2023](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2023/07/) (16) * [June 2023](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2023/06/) (19) * [May 2023](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2023/05/) (17) * [April 2023](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2023/04/) (11) * [March 2023](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2023/03/) (24) * [February 2023](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2023/02/) (23) * [January 2023](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2023/01/) (23) * [December 2022](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2022/12/) (14) * [November 2022](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2022/11/) (17) * [October 2022](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2022/10/) (19) * [September 2022](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2022/09/) (22) * [August 2022](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2022/08/) (26) * [July 2022](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2022/07/) (27) * [June 2022](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2022/06/) (23) * [May 2022](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2022/05/) (15) * [April 2022](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2022/04/) (17) * [March 2022](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2022/03/) (21) * [February 2022](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2022/02/) (25) * [January 2022](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2022/01/) (18) * [December 2021](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2021/12/) (10) * [November 2021](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2021/11/) (7) * [October 2021](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2021/10/) (8) * [September 2021](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2021/09/) (23) * [August 2021](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2021/08/) (14) * [July 2021](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2021/07/) (12) * [June 2021](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2021/06/) (18) * [May 2021](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2021/05/) (14) * [April 2021](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2021/04/) (24) * [March 2021](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2021/03/) (15) * [February 2021](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2021/02/) (17) * [January 2021](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2021/01/) (33) * [December 2020](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2020/12/) (33) * [November 2020](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2020/11/) (38) * [October 2020](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2020/10/) (42) * [September 2020](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2020/09/) (43) * [August 2020](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2020/08/) (39) * [July 2020](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2020/07/) (42) * [June 2020](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2020/06/) (47) * [May 2020](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2020/05/) (47) * [April 2020](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2020/04/) (39) * [March 2020](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2020/03/) (62) * [February 2020](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2020/02/) (40) * [January 2020](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2020/01/) (15) * [December 2019](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2019/12/) (16) * [November 2019](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2019/11/) (6) * [October 2019](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2019/10/) (6) * [September 2019](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2019/09/) (11) * [August 2019](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2019/08/) (9) * [July 2019](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2019/07/) (14) * [June 2019](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2019/06/) (7) * [May 2019](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2019/05/) (12) * [April 2019](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2019/04/) (12) * [March 2019](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2019/03/) (19) * [February 2019](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2019/02/) (29) * [January 2019](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2019/01/) (14) * [December 2018](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2018/12/) (1)

### Categories

* [2022 Wildfires](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2022-wildfires/) * [COVID-19](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/covid-19/) * [Early Childhood Education](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/early-childhood-education/) * [Legislative Updates](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/legislative-updates/) * [Press Releases](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/press-releases/) * [Public Safety](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/public-safety/) * [Uncategorized](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/uncategorized/)

## Contact

The Office of Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham is located on the fourth floor of the New Mexico State Capitol in Room 400.

Address: 490 Old Santa Fe Trail Room 400 Santa Fe, NM 87501

Phone: (505) 476-2200 Toll free: (833) 520-0020

## Quick Links

* [Open Positions](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/apply/open-positions/) * [Boards and Commissions](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/apply/boards-and-commissions/) * [Judicial and District Attorney Posts](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/judicial-and-district-attorney-posts/)

## Flag Status