New Mexico to begin COVID-19 spot testing at restaurants
LAS CRUCES, NM (KFOX14/CBS4) — COVID-19 spot testing at restaurants across New Mexico begins this week.
The new initiative is part of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s new public health order that went into effect on Friday.
“Businesses will be notified ahead of time that [the Department of Health] will be coming to do these spot tests and if employees refuse, then they can only provide outdoor dining at 75 percent capacity, they will not be able to provide indoor dining,” Communication Director for the New Mexico Dept. of Health Marisa Maez said.
The National Guard will be helping the NMDOH administer the tests.
Rapid tests will be used, giving businesses results within minutes.
“The rapid test that we would be using if we went to do spot testing on the employees are very reliable and they help us determine on the spot whether someone needs to be sent home,” Maez said.
Angela Stoltenberg, owner of Boba Café in Las Cruces, said she has mixed emotions about the new rule.
“I know that they’re doing it because they want to combat the spread of COVID, but I guess randomly testing my employees, you know, it’s sort of like I feel it infringes on their rights, you know?” Stoltenberg said.
The NMDOH said it will look at data from counties and zip codes experiencing high numbers of COVID-19 cases to determine which areas need to be targeted for spot testing.
https://kfoxtv.com/news/coronavirus/new-mexico-to-begin-covid-19-spot-testing-at-restaurants?