Tennessee’s Republican governor signed an executive order this weekend to restrict gatherings in some public spaces, but declined to order a statewide mandate again as things continue to soar nationwide.
In a speech to Tennesseans on the governor’s website, Bill Lee urged state residents to avoid holiday gatherings without anyone outside of their immediate household, noting that public gatherings under the order would be limited to 10 people. Places of worship and some other activities will be exempt, he added.
“It only took a few days to see Thanksgiving gatherings translate into record levels of illness. Tennessee can’t stand a similar wave after Christmas or New Year. Tonight, I’m asking you to make tough decisions,” Lee said.
Lee also said that while he believes masks work to slow the spread of the virus, he does not believe in mandating such a practice statewide.
Many think a statewide mandate would improve the wearing of masks, many think it would have the opposite effect. This has been a deeply politicized issue. Don’t get caught up in that and understand my belief in local government. Not wrong on this issue. Masks work and I want every Tennessean to wear one, “Lee said.
State health officials have already seen the number of new COVID-19 infections skyrocket levels from earlier this year to more than 4,100 cases per day, making Tennessee hospitals difficult to keep up. Just under 3,000 people are hospitalized with COVID-19 throughout the hospital.
The state’s health director said this weekend that Tennessee now has the highest infection rate of any state in the country.
“We’re running out of options. There are no more staff to spend money on, as they are already next to the bed,” Lisa Piercey, the state’s health director, said Sunday.