On Dec. 20, 2020, Gov. Bill Lee offered a statewide address in response to the recent surge of COVID-19 across Tennessee and in anticipation of the rise of cases during the Christmas holiday season.
“It’s Christmas week, ordinarily a time when families across the state are gathering to celebrate,” the governor told Tennesseans. “Unfortunately, these are not ordinary times. We are in a global pandemic that’s been crippling our country for months, and now Tennessee is ground zero for a surge in sickness. I am speaking with you tonight [Dec. 20] because I want to be clear with where we are and what we need to do together to get through this.”
Lee announced the number of new cases of the virus are almost 10,000 each day, nearly three times where the state stood at the end of October.
“We are in a war,” he said, adding the virus is claiming the lives of more than 100 people each day. “With the arrivals of the first vaccine, we have launched an offensive that will end this war. But it is the next few weeks, that is going to be the most critical for our state.”
The governor went on to urge Tennesseans to not gather with those who do not live in their own homes during the holiday season, stating he knows how important family time and celebrations are and how much Tennessee families need each other. However, he strongly reminded residents that it is the responsibility of each individual to do what they can to stop the spread of COVID-19 and keep more Tennesseans from getting sick.
“We have seen firsthand that Thanksgiving gatherings and extended time indoors have been the principal driver in spreading COVID-19 like wildfire,” he said. “It only took a matter of days to see gatherings around Thanksgiving translate into a record level of sickness.
Lee reminded residents the state would not fare well should the same thing stem from Christmas celebrations.
“Tennessee cannot sustain a similar surge after Christmas or New Year’s,” he said. “Tonight [Dec. 20], I am asking you to make some hard decisions.”
The governor addressed topics he said would help curb the spread of the virus and hopefully keep it to a level at which the health care facilities across the state would be able to help those in need.
Lee issued Executive Order No. 70 in which he limited indoor public, social gatherings to 10 people and asked that employers allow employees to work from home when feasible or wear masks when not.
The order also put restrictions on indoor sporting events. In conjunction with TSSAA, the governor’s order will restrict attendance to indoor high school sports to immediate family members and/or caretakers, coaches, administrators, medical personal, and media.
After discussing some of the details of the Executive Order, the governor addressed the controversial subject of masks.
“I want to talk about the importance of wearing masks around people who do not live in your home,” he said.
Lee said that at this time, 70 percent of Tennesseans are under a mask requirement because of his giving county mayors the authority to determine whether mandates are right for their communities.
“I commend the local officials who have implemented mask requirements,” Lee said. “Because of that, 80 percent of Tennesseans report they wear their masks most, or all, of the time, and I thank them for doing this. We need them to continue and the remaining 20 percent to wear a mask and protect their health.”
In a conference call with members of the state’s media force, on Dec. 22, Lee expanded on his stance on masks.
“It’s not a reluctancy – it’s a strategy,” he said, responding to questions about his refusal to issue a statewide mask mandate. “People may not trust the state government or even the health department. People will trust their doctor. I believe the state government is not the trusted source – the trusted source is the local government.”
Lee said the hope is that by putting the decision into the hands of local officials, people will feel more comfortable with the decision to wear a mask when faced with the choice, and he believes the large percentage of Tennesseans currently “masking up” is due to local governments.
“Many think a statewide mandate would improve mask wearing; many think it would have the opposite effect,” he said. “This has been a heavily politicized issue,” he said. “Please do not 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.”
State Representative Paul Sherrell, who represents White County, said he agrees with the governor’s decision to leave mask mandates to local governments and to not begin another shutdown as was seen in the early stages of the pandemic.
“I support the governor,” Sherrell said. “In my opinion he has made the right decision. People don’t like to be told what to do. I know there’s a lot of people, even doctors, who disagree, but I think it’s right.”
Sherrell said he would support people getting out and going to work but suggested that businesses be diligent to keep the number of patrons they have at one time to a manageable number.
“I would encourage to avoid crowds,” he said, reminding business owners the responsibility of social distancing can fall on them and how they manage the flow of traffic through their businesses. “Just don’t fill to capacity. Separate tables or clients and keep a safe distance at all times.”
Senator Paul Bailey, who also represents White County, echoed his support of the governor’s stance.
“There is some misconception about mask mandates in Tennessee,” Bailey said. “While there is not a universal statewide mandate, almost two-thirds of Tennesseans are under a mandate to wear masks in public. The governor maintains that those decisions are best made at the local level, and he made it clear, on Sunday, that he still believes this is the best course.”
Asked about the potential of this new order being the start of another shutdown for many of the state’s small businesses, Bailey, too, said he feels that is not going to happen.
“As far as any potential closure of gyms, salons, or restaurants, health officials maintain that the current spread is primarily from social events and among family when we let down our guard,” he explained, and said that vigilance is the key to keeping the state’s business open and employees working. “Our businesses are doing a good job in taking the needed precautions, so, unless we see a major change in the way the virus is spread, I do not see future closures of these businesses as long as they continue to be vigilant.”
The governor urged Tennesseans to do their part by limiting their gatherings and wearing masks as he said the next few weeks will be critical in the fight against COVID-19, stating another spike would cause the state’s medical facilities to be past capacity and make it impossible for them to care for the sick, regardless of whether the illness is COVID related or not.
“We have resources to fight COVID-19,” Lee said of the state’s government. “We are doing it. We are opening COVID-specific nursing homes, funding hospitals with staffing assistance, providing medics from national guard and FEMA [Federal Emergency Manage Agency] medical corps, and continuing to provide testing across the state.”
Lee also pointed to the hope that comes in the availability of the newly-developed vaccine, saying he feels fairly certain that by Jan. 1, 200,000 Tennesseans, frontline medical workers, and long-term care facility residents will have had their first dose of the vaccine.
“It will be weeks before they begin to have an impact on our caseload,” Lee said.
While the vaccine brings hope, Lee still cautioned about foregoing the safety measures that have been in place for months.
“Tennesseans have two weapons that they must use in the next 30 days: only gather with your household, and wear a mask,” he said. “We are in a cold, cruel phase of this pandemic. It will get worse before it gets better. I know you are tired. But we have got to double down.”
Lee reminded Tennesseans that Christmas is going to be a true test, but, if responsibility and patience are at the forefront, he feels change is on the way.
Lee concluded, “I am reminded of Winston Churchill’s words during the darkest days of World War II: ‘It would be foolish to disguise the gravity of the hour. It would be still more foolish to lose heart and courage.’”
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