Enchantment State News

The president of the New Mexico Business Coalition (NMBC), reporting on its survey titled "Analyzing New Mexico's Coronavirus Response," said the state’s handling of the COVID-19 outbreak initially saved lives with setting restrictions, but lasted too long and damaged New Mexico’s economy.

Carla J. Sonntag said the state needs to restore the state to one that functions properly because the disaster of the ongoing shutdown is real and is going to destroy lives.

Sonntag acused Gov. Michelle L. Grisham (D-New Mexico) of engaging in an “unprecedented lockdown” of businesses, and that her staff had accused critics of being a “death cult.”

She said a great deal has been learned since the coronavirus pandemic began and with much lower than expected mortality rates the crisis can be successfully managed while allowing life to continue in a more normal fashion.

Sonntag said Grisham’s mandatory orders as a requirement for the next phase of reopening including mandating face masks for anyone in a public place, as well as wide-spread testing prior to the state being fully functional, were counterproductive.

She also criticized continuing lockdowns while requiring immunizations which could take up to 24 months to become widely available.  

A survey conducted by the NMBC of 1,100 participants showed that 95% felt the economy should have reopened no later than May 15, while 93% felt all small businesses should be reopened immediately. Roughly 84% felt state officials had mishandled the shutdown and lacked a reopening plan, while 73% were dissatisfied with the state's response to unemployment.

The governor’s leadership did not support what is best for New Mexico residents, 85% of respondents said.

Sonntag said the governor's belief that lockdowns should continue until science says otherwise is flawed, because the science being used in questionable, and has hurt minorities, the poor and business operations. She said damage to the state’s economy has contributed to suicides, alcohol, drug abuse and increased domestic violence.

She said the number of COVID-19 cases in New Mexico, 5,938 as of May 18 with 265 deaths, continues to increase partly due to patients brought in from out of state.  

As a result of the closures, Sonntag said hundreds of businesses in the state have folded permanently and thousands of jobs have been lost. She said New Mexico residents have the common sense and responsibility to do the right thing and urged that reopenings take place immediately.