SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — People were asked to stay home and nonessential businesses must stop in-person activities as Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Friday reimposed tougher public health restrictions for the next two weeks in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19.

The Democratic governor said the state is at a breaking point and that a two-week pause will give an opportunity to blunt the virus.

“We are in a life-or-death situation, and if we don't act right now, we cannot preserve the lives, we can't keep saving lives, and we will absolutely crush our current health care system and infrastructure,” she said.

The emergency measures to rein in surging rates of coronavirus infections, hospitalizations and deaths across New Mexico — which are also soaring nationwide — will take effect Monday and run through Thanksgiving. Existing mandates already limit hours for certain businesses, prohibit gatherings of more than five people and require face coverings in public, and all are still included in the new order.

Rising daily rates of COVID-19 have derailed attempts at in-person schooling and could delay the next legislative session.

Lawmakers sparred Thursday over whether to delay a session that traditionally starts in mid-January, potentially deferring Democratic initiatives on cannabis, abortion rights and education funding.

The same day, New Mexico marked its highest daily count of confirmed cases and one of the highest daily death counts since the pandemic began. Health officials are reporting uncontrollable spread, noting that the rate of positive tests has surpassed 13%.

Legislative leaders are weighing whether to soldier on with the session in January by moving committee meetings to a spacious convention center to allow greater social distancing and accommodate public participation.

But some would prefer a delay in response to surging infections statewide. Republican House Minority Leader Jim Townsend of Artesia advocated for a delay until spring in hopes of greater public participation then.

“If New Mexicans are being told to skip Thanksgiving and Christmas with family members because of the risk, then we can surely delay the session,” Townsend said in the statement Thursday.

Democratic House Speaker Brian Egolf said it is crucial for the Legislature to meet on time about pandemic relief efforts and that arrangements are being made for meaningful public input.

“Our communities cannot afford a delay,” Egolf said in a statement.

State health officials have been trying to boost New Mexico's testing capacity as a way to identify cases and curb spread. More than 1.3 million tests have been done.

In Santa Fe, Tony Gerlicz lined up Thursday to get a test before he and his wife visit their grandchildren in California around Thanksgiving. The line stretched about 200 cars, snaking up and down tight residential streets. Gerlicz sent his wife home, holding their place in line by standing on the street between two cars in the warm sun.

Gerlicz said the entire family is getting tests this week because “we want to put their minds at ease and ours as well.”

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Attanasio is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.