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SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE) – Violating COVID-safe protocols in faculties will price you. That’s the message the New Mexico Public Education Department is reminding everybody after studying that three employees members didn’t isolate after testing constructive for COVID-19.
The division despatched a message to superintendents throughout the state final month to remind college employees, college students, and oldsters of the penalty of not following the general public well being order. It comes after studying three people throughout two districts examined constructive for COVID however didn’t isolate.
“We knew about three so we said let’s follow up and make sure everybody across the state knows about this possible fine,” mentioned Dr. Kurt Steinhaus, secretary of NMPED. Dr. Steinhaus couldn’t share which districts this occurred in however mentioned the state discovered of it by means of the college’s reporting system.
In the September 16 memo to superintendents the PED mentioned:
The New Mexico Public Education Department (NMPED) and the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) are conscious that sure people usually are not letting faculties know once they take a look at constructive for COVID-19, and that people are coming to high school after testing constructive. This contains employees and oldsters visiting the college or sending their college students to high school after testing constructive.
Please remember that people refusing to self-isolate, or refusing to self-isolate their youngsters, following a constructive COVID-19 take a look at put the well being and security of others at severe threat. Any such motion will probably be referred to NMDOH and the New Mexico Attorney General for investigation and attainable civil and felony enforcement. Individuals who violate the Public Health Orders or Public Health Act could also be topic to a effective of as much as $5,000 per violation and as much as six (6) months in jail.
Please assist make sure the well being and security of our college students and employees by reporting a refusal to following self-isolation public well being orders, by contacting NMDOH at 1-833-551-0518 or by submitting your concern right here.
Dr. Steinhaus mentioned it actually all facilities across the security of children. “This is all about keeping school kids and all the staff in schools safe. That’s our primary focus. And if we can keep them safe, and make them follow all of the covid safe practices then we can keep them in school, and they can learn, they can be with their friends,” Dr. Steinhaus mentioned.
Since that memo went out, PED mentioned it hasn’t had any extra studies of individuals not isolating after testing constructive. The division is encouraging everybody to report issues relating to COVID-safe protocols to an nameless portal.
KRQE News 13 additionally requested PED for an replace on voluntary COVID surveillance testing for college students. As of September 27, solely three of 27 public college districts met that 25% testing objective per week with lots of the districts nonetheless struggling to even meet 5%.
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