Tennessee governor opposes mask mandate in state with rising number of new Covid-19 cases

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In recent days alone, the new coronavirus sickened the state’s first lady and sent Governor Bill Lee into an extensive quarantine. The virus also ripped through the University of Tennessee football team, infecting coach Jeremy Pruitt and bringing the team to an abrupt end.

People sick with severe Covid-19 have put a lot of strain on hospitals, but there are no plans to open a field hospital – because there aren’t enough health care personnel to support one.

In a video address on Sunday night, Governor Lee acknowledged that Tennessee is “ground zero for a wave of sickness.”

No state has more totally new cases than California, but adjusted for population, the Tennessee outbreak is worse. In the past week, Tennessee averaged about 9,300 new coronavirus cases per day, the 5th most of any state in the country, despite having the 16th highest population. That daily number of new cases is even more than in Pennsylvania, which has nearly twice as many people.
Infections and deaths from coronavirus skyrocket towards Christmas week, and 'it will get worse'

The surge in new cases in Tennessee began in early November and was exacerbated by Thanksgiving rallies, state officials said.

Dr. Tennessee health commissioner Lisa Piercey said active cases have increased by two-thirds in the past week. She said she feared another wave during the holidays would “ completely break our hospitals. ”

In his video speech, Lee implored people not to hold gatherings with anyone outside their household during the holiday season.

“We’ve seen firsthand that Thanksgiving gatherings and extended periods of time indoors have been the main driver in spreading Covid-19 like wildfire,” he said. It only took a few days to see the Thanksgiving gatherings translate into record levels of disease. Tennessee cannot sustain a similar rise after Christmas or New Year. ”

But no mask mandate

Fans with face masks and face cover will enter the race track ahead of the NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race at Bristol Motor Speedway on July 15, 2020 in Bristol, Tennessee.
Despite urgent warnings, Governor Lee, a former businessman elected a Republican in 2018, has opposed the aggressive actions of other states, including New York or California, and has instead taken a similar hands-off approach to that of North or South. Dakota, the states with the most per capita cases in the pandemic.

Crucially, Lee refused to issue a mask mandate and leave the decision to local officials.

“Many think a statewide mandate would improve the wearing of masks, many think it would have the opposite effect,” he said on Sunday. “This is a deeply politicized issue. Don’t get caught up in that and don’t misunderstand my belief in local government on this issue. Masks work and I want every Tennessean to wear one.”

The CDC says masks protect others as well as the wearer, and the White House coronavirus task force has been calling on states for months to require everyone to wear a mask.
These GOP governors have long opposed mask mandates and coronavirus rules. Now their states are in crisis.

Lee’s executive order also limited indoor gatherings to 10 people – but excludes churches, weddings and funerals, intimate gatherings ripe for the spread of Covid-19.

His refusal to take more aggressive actions has frustrated and angered Protect My Care, a coalition of health workers who have been calling for a statewide mask mandate for months.

Gov. Lee, this is no time for half-measures, loopholes or symbolic gestures. We need action. We need concrete steps to get the virus under control. We need the political courage to do your part and get up, ”said Dr. Aaron Milstone, an intensive care pulmonologist, according to CNN affiliate WTVC.
Senator Jeff Yarbro, a Democrat and the minority leader of the Tennessee Senate, derided Lee’s command as a “executive suggestionBut other Republican state leaders supported Lee’s more limited approach.

Still, Lee previously acknowledged that despite his pleas, many people oppose wearing a mask. Speaking about the coronavirus vaccine last week, he sharply criticized those who refused to wear masks as selfish.

“One thing that this vaccine won’t fix, one thing it won’t cure, is selfishness or indifference to what’s happening to our neighbors around us,” he said.

“This vaccine does not cure foolish decisions about how we meet. It does not cure an attitude of refusing to wear a mask. And it does not cure the idea that I will take my chances and that it will not affect the life of someone else. . “

CNN’s David Close, Raja Razek and Carma Hassan contributed to this report.

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