New Mexico drops mask mandate for fully vaccinated following new CDC guidance Algernon D'Ammassa, Las Cruces Sun-News CDC announces fully vaccinated people don't need masks, with a few exceptions Replay Video UP NEXT SANTA FE – New Mexico on Friday joined a growing number of states relaxing masking mandates following a change in guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The New Mexico Department of Health announced an amended public health order mirroring the new federal recommendations, essentially dropping the state's mask mandate for fully vaccinated individuals with a few exceptions, as well as the requirement that they maintain six feet of distance from other individuals.