Governor Bill Lee called out Tennessee for its recent Thanksgiving gatherings as selfish, indifferent, and foolish decisions. The governor issued these remarks during a press conference as some of the first COVID-19 vaccines were administered at Vanderbilt University.
“We do stand here and celebrate a tremendous breakthrough in this pandemic,” stated Lee. “But there is a darkness before the dawn that’s happening right here in Tennessee – we have to recognize that. Tennessee’s cases are surging. The holidays have caught up with us. Decisions that some made during Thanksgiving have a severe reality in this hospital and all across Tennessee today.”
The governor didn’t explain what decisions he was referring to, nor did he explain how they led to a spike in cases. The Tennessee Department of Health released case reports this week; some county health officials attributed the spikes to Thanksgiving gatherings.
Lee admonished the people of Tennessee for being inconsiderate by choosing to visit friends and family during the holidays, or opting to not wear a mask.
“One thing that this vaccine will not solve, one thing that it will not cure, is selfishness or indifference to what’s happening to our neighbors around us,” continued Lee. “This vaccine will not cure foolish decisions about how we gather. It won’t cure an attitude of a refusal to wear a mask. It won’t cure the idea that I will take my chances and that will not impact someone else’s life. I think Tennesseans have a tremendous capacity right now to responsibly make decisions that will serve their neighbor in the process. This vaccine is a very powerful tool – but it will take some time to have a real impact. And in the meantime, it is the very simple things that Tennesseans can do that will help us turn the tide on COVID-19 in our state.”
Lee asserted that the decision to wear a mask would possibly prevent the wearer from having to be treated in a hospital. Tennessee’s state of emergency is set to expire December 29th. It is unclear whether the governor will continue to extend the order after the year’s end. December 1st marked the ninth month of the national emergency.
In light of Lee’s latest remarks, The Tennessee Star asked spokespersons within the governor’s office if Lee intends on implementing any statewide mandates ahead of Christmas or in the coming months. Their spokespersons didn’t respond by press time.
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Corinne Murdock is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and the Star News Network. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to [email protected].
I’m displeased with his abdication of leadership with respect to the 4 largest counties in Tennessee on Covid-19 matters.
We need executive leadership, accountable to the voters, and not appointed Health Department apparatchiks who issue edicts as if they’re functionaries in a Kafkaesque bureaucracy.
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He is supposed to address the state tomorrow. Shouldn’t Bill do the right thing and self quarantine for 14 days since he’s had close contact with the infected, or will he proceed with a super-spreading press conference?
Also note how they try to excuse his exposure with “he doesn’t have any symptoms and feels fine” when we have been told for months that all asymptomatic people are infected spreaders.
Oops….must not have worn a mask?
https://www.wjhl.com/news/regional/tennessee/tennessee-first-lady-maria-lee-tests-positive-for-covid-19/
https://www.nga.org/news/press-releases/400-representatives-of-u-s-china-attend-collaboration-summit-in-kentucky/
Lee makes me sick with the rest of the commies !
Why are hospitals not counting flu anymore why have zero prescriptions been written for flu meds ? Because it’s all a hoax ! The hospital does not get money if they say flu but if it’s labeled as Covid the cash in they federal govt ! This shit is sick and the brainwashing is thick ! Wake up people !!!! Bill Lee is scared to stand up for the truth he is not a leader he is a pussy working with the commies ! This virus is so smart it knows to leave kids alone and stay out of Walmart !!!! Wow do research don’t let the tv tell you what to think !
This is one of the few areas where I AGREE with the Governor. Despite his right-wing defects in other issues, he is right to call people who celebrated foolishly during Thanksgiving (or, is it Thankstaking, as we stole from the Indians). If we Tennesseans really love one another, we will act in such a way as not to endanger the welfare of our loved ones and neighbors. Talk about family values!
Years from now psychological studies will be done on why so few were able to convince so many of the lies that ” our health and government leaders” have perpetuated. If you subscribe to anything the CDC puts out at this point , they have said that the actual number of COVID cases is likely 10 times , possibly up to 24 times , the number of positive tests , assuming the tests are accurate. If that is true , then in a very few weeks – and before the COVID jab gets distributed – everyone in the state will have had COVID. Then what? Well surely not herd immunity…