{"id":50099,"date":"2020-12-03T16:39:00","date_gmt":"2020-12-03T23:39:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/shaky-optimism-surfaces-as-san-juan-county-reopens\/"},"modified":"2026-03-31T03:50:06","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T09:50:06","slug":"shaky-optimism-surfaces-as-san-juan-county-reopens","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/shaky-optimism-surfaces-as-san-juan-county-reopens\/","title":{"rendered":"Shaky optimism surfaces as San Juan County reopens"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\"Perla
Perla Arzate takes a phone-in order from Fat Boys Deli in Farmington. Restaurants and eateries are still accepting curbside and delivery orders with only limited outdoor dining capacities in place.<\/span>Steve Bortstein\/For The Journal<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

FARMINGTON \u2013 As New Mexico rapidly approached more than 100,000 positive cases of COVID-19, the latest health order from the governor\u2019s office allows businesses to reopen with restrictions.<\/p>\n

The public health order, announced Friday by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and state health officials, is designed to provide counties the flexibility to operate more day-to-day activities. The state will transition to a tiered county-by-county COVID-19 risk system, enabling communities to shed some restrictions when public health data show the virus is retreating within their borders.<\/p>\n

The new framework went into effect after a two-week \u201creset\u201d last month, in which state officials enacted the most heightened level of statewide public health restrictions upon businesses and day-to-day activities in an effort to blunt the spread of COVID-19 across New Mexico.<\/p>\n

Counties are tiered in three designations: red counties considered to be at very high risk, yellow counties at high risk and green counties at medium risk. According to the amended public health order, the county-by-county framework will permit counties \u2013 and the businesses and nonprofit entities within their borders \u2013 to operate under less restrictive public health measures when health metrics demonstrating the extent of the virus\u2019 spread and test positivity within those counties are met.<\/p>\n

All but one of New Mexico\u2019s 33 counties have been placed at level red. Only Los Alamos County is under the yellow designation.<\/p>\n

The latest round of restrictions, including the most recent near-total shutdown that concluded Tuesday, has taken its toll on local government officials and business owners and managers.<\/p>\n

By Wednesday, health officials reported 100,970 positive cases statewide. About half the state\u2019s total cases since the pandemic began have been reported in the past month.<\/p>\n

The 40 deaths reported Wednesday brought the cumulative death toll to 940. Nearly all had been hospitalized and had underlying conditions, The Associated Press reported.<\/p>\n

Cautiously optimistic<\/div>\n

Farmington City Manager Rob Mayes acknowledged the effect the latest closures and restrictions have had on businesses.<\/p>\n

\u201cRestrictions on essential businesses and services create hardships for those traveling here for necessities,\u201d Mayes said this week. \u201cIn spite of this, I am optimistic our community will come together to improve our numbers, relieve our health care personnel and resources and get our schools, businesses and churches fully open.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mayes was reluctant to say whether he thought the new tiered system as the best step going forward.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe hope this is a step in the right direction, yet I have reservations as our county is so vast and varied,\u201d he said. \u201cSan Juan County is larger than the state of Connecticut, so still a very large area to throw all into one pot. And we serve as a vital retail and necessities hub for over 300,000 citizens of the Four Corners.\u201d<\/p>\n

One such business model that had to justify its importance and differentiate itself from others was gyms or personal fitness facilities.<\/p>\n

Defined Fitness, which operates eight facilities in New Mexico, as well as other gyms, sought relief from the governor\u2019s orders originally classifying fitness centers as retail operations, which would have allowed them only 25% capacity, or 10 people inside the facility at a time. After much discussion, the state allowed fitness centers to be placed in the category of \u201call other businesses,\u201d allowing personal fitness to operate at 25% capacity or up to 75 customers at a time, whichever is smaller.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat will make a big difference for us, especially,\u201d said Steve Lein, operations manager of Defined Fitness\u2019 club in Farmington. \u201cGyms are more a part of the solution as opposed to the problem. The idea of keeping one\u2019s physical and mental well-being important is going to go a long way in helping people stay healthy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Defined
Defined Fitness of Farmington hopes for a return of members this week as restrictions on operating capacity lift somewhat for gyms and fitness centers across San Juan County.<\/span>Steve Bortstein\/For The Journal<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Before the first shutdown last spring, the gym offered about 75 classes per week. It now offers about 30. Personal trainers\u2019 business has dropped from 80 clients to about 20, he said.<\/p>\n

The decline in business has brought personal and economic hardship for staff and members.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe learned a lot about furloughs and layoffs (during the first lockdown) and the effect it was having on everyone,\u201d Lein said. \u201cThe biggest negative was the idea that gyms weren\u2019t safe. People didn\u2019t want to come back when we reopened after the first lockdown.\u201d<\/p>\n

Among the differences between the current partial reopening and the ones personal fitness centers experienced last spring was the change in the weather.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen we shut down the first time, the weather was warmer, so people found alternative ways to stay healthy,\u201d Lein said. \u201cNow, it\u2019s much colder, and some people may be more reluctant to take care of their health and wellness. That\u2019s where we need to do a good job in ensuring people that our facilities are up to the task.\u201d<\/p>\n

What are the long-lasting ramifications?<\/div>\n

Gyms and personal fitness facilities weren\u2019t the only businesses massively impacted by near-total lockdowns.<\/p>\n

Bars, breweries and restaurants also face long-lasting ramifications.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe started with 80 employees before the first lockdown,\u201d said John Silva, owner of downtown Farmington\u2019s Three Rivers Restaurant, as well as its accompanying tap and game room, pizzeria and brewstillery. \u201cNow we\u2019re down to five.\u201d<\/p>\n

Still, Silva remained optimistic that people\u2019s behaviors can and will change for the better.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne thing I keep hoping for is that we\u2019ll all learn to be a little kinder to each other,\u201d Silva said. \u201cThere isn\u2019t one business that I know of in this area that hasn\u2019t been crushed by this.\u201d<\/p>\n

Three Rivers, which has served the community for more than 20 years, relied on a loyal customer base to keep operations moving during the first shutdown and during the most recent limits on operating hours and capacity. Newer businesses, Silva opined, weren\u2019t as lucky.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you decided to venture into a new business in 2020 before all this came along, how much longer can you possibly survive? How much more stress can a business take before it becomes too much?\u201d<\/p>\n

Eva Armenta, owner of Fat Boys Deli in Farmington, said not even high school students have been spared from the financial impacts of widespread shutdowns.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re contracted through the city to be available at ballparks and recreation centers over the spring and summer,\u201d Armenta said. \u201cWhen the first lockdown occurred, all those kids who were counting on us for seasonal jobs were suddenly out of work through no fault of their own.\u201d<\/p>\n

Armenta hopes for improved communication from state, county and local officials about changing health orders.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe relied so much on social media to get any sort of information at all during these last few months,\u201d Armenta said. \u201cWe never received communication from state officials at all.\u201d<\/p>\n

Armenta noted that residents\u2019 and businesses\u2019 frustrations have been mounting.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou do everything you can to follow orders,\u201d Armenta said. \u201cWe spent money on outdoor seating, we changed our hours. We were so encouraged by the support we got from the community the first time around.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s a lot of reasons why this recent lockdown was worse, but it just seemed that optimism was disappearing,\u201d Armenta said.<\/p>\n

Economic hardships for many in San Juan County could last years, Silva said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s a cost to all of this, and it\u2019s not just financial,\u201d Silva said. \u201cThere\u2019s an element of mistrust out there. All these cities rely on each other, and all it takes is one little hiccup before it comes back again.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Associated Press contributed to this report.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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