The Republican governor of Tennessee signed an executive order this weekend restricting meetings in some public spaces, but again refused to issue a mask at the state level, as cases continue to rise nationwide.
In an address to Tennesseans on the governor’s website, Bill Lee urged residents of the state to avoid holiday meetings without anyone outside their immediate household and mentioned that public meetings will be limited to 10 people by order. Places of worship and other activities will be exempt, he added.
“It only took a few days to see the Thanksgiving Day gatherings that translate into a record level of illness. Tennessee can’t stand a similar increase after Christmas or New Year. Tonight, please make some tough decisions. “Lee said.
Lee also said that although he believes the masks work to slow the spread of the virus, he does not believe in forcing such a practice at the state level.
“Many believe that a state-level mandate would improve the wearing of the mask, many believe it would have the opposite effect. This has been a highly politicized issue. Please do not get caught up in this and misunderstand my belief in local government. “The masks work, and I want every Tennessee to wear one,” Lee said.
State health officials have already seen the rate of new COVID-19 infections soar to more than 4,100 cases a day earlier this year, leaving Tennessee hospitals in a hurry to keep up. Just under 3,000 people are hospitalized with COVID-19 statewide.
The state health director said this weekend that Tennessee now has the highest infection rate in any state in the country.
“We’re running out of options. There are no more staff members to spend money on because they’re already by the bed,” Lisa Piercey, the state’s health director, said Sunday.