Gov. Bill Lee announced Friday that Tennessee is lifting its capacity restrictions for restaurants and retail on May 22.
“Tennesseans have worked incredibly hard to do their part and help slow the spread of COVID-19 so that our state can begin to reopen. Thanks to their continued efforts, we’re able to allow restaurants and retail businesses to operate at greater capacity and large attractions to open in a safe and thoughtful way,” Lee said.
“Our state continues to see downward trends in case growth and meets the White House criteria for a phased reopening. This progress has been hard-won, and we can build upon it by reopening while also maintaining common-sense safety measures like mask-wearing and good hygiene,” he added. “By taking the Tennessee Pledge, our businesses can reopen in a way that protects the health of their customers and employees, and protects the livelihoods of hard-working Tennesseans.”
The decision does not apply to Shelby, Madison, Davidson, Hamilton, Knox and Sullivan because they are following their own county-specific reopening plans, the governor’s press release said.
Tennessee is turning its attention towards making large attraction guidelines so these places can reopen on or after next Friday, according to Lee’s press release.
Large attractions guidelines apply to businesses that can “effectively practice social distancing with strong measures to protect both employees and customers.”
The industries that fit the “large attraction” category are racetracks, amusement parks, waterparks, theaters and dinner theaters, auditoriums and large museums, according to the governor’s press release.
Even with Tennessee pulling restrictions on restaurants and retail, the state is still restricting social gatherings to no more than 10 people.
As of Friday, Tennessee has 16,970 positive coronavirus cases along with 290 deaths, according to the Tennessee Department of Health numbers.
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Zachery Schmidt is the digital editor of Star News Digital Media. If you have any tips, email Zachery at [email protected].
No this does not apply to Davidson County and our idiot Mayor in Nashville. Cooper is an a_ _ !