Not Ready to Open

The Chattanooga Times-Free Press reports that a group of physicians is advising Tennesseans to continue to stay home amid the COVID-19 pandemic, despite Gov. Bill Lee suggesting Tennessee is ready to "re-open."

A group of more than 2,000 physicians in Tennessee is urging residents to stay physically distant to stop the spread of COVID-19 as the state moves to reopen its economy.

Since the coronavirus — which is five times more infectious than the flu — does not have a vaccine, the only way to stop the spread is to stay apart, said Dr. Aaron Milstone, a pulmonary specialist treating COVID-19 patients in Williamson County.

“To my fellow Tennesseans, you’re definitely hearing mixed messages about whether or not it’s open and safe to reopen our economy and engage in business again. Let us be clear, it is not,” Milstone said.

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One More Week

Hendersonville city leaders have announced the "Stay at Home" order will be in effect for the city for at least one more week, the Tennessean reports:

The City of Hendersonville will remain under a declared state of emergency in response to the COVID-19 pandemic for another week.

Mayor Jamie Clary extended the state of emergency, which will now remain in place through May 1, according to a notice issued Friday.

Sumner County has been one of those most impacted by the novel coronavirus outbreak, tallying 556 confirmed cases Thursday, the most recent data available from the Tennessee Department of Health. That’s out of 8,266 cases statewide.

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Lee Set to "Re-Open" Tennessee Even as COVID19 Nears Peak

While Sumner County has the third-highest number of Coronavirus cases in Tennessee and the second-highest number of deaths, Gov. Bill Lee today announced plans to "re-open" Tennessee in 89 of 95 counties, including Sumner, by May 1st.

Here's his announcement:

Today, Governor Bill Lee announced the order for Tennesseans to remain at home will expire April 30, with the vast majority of businesses in 89 counties allowed to re-open on May 1.

“Our Economic Recovery Group is working with industry leaders around the clock so that some businesses can open as soon as Monday, April 27,” said Gov. Lee. “These businesses will open according to specific guidance that we will provide in accordance with state and national experts in both medicine and business.”

The Lee Administration will work with Shelby, Madison, Davidson, Hamilton, Knox and Sullivan counties and their health departments as they plan their own re-open strategies.

“While I am not extending the safer at home order past the end of April, we are working directly with our major metropolitan areas to ensure they are in a position to reopen as soon and safely as possible,” said Lee. “Social distancing works, and as we open up our economy it will be more important than ever that we keep social distancing as lives and livelihoods depend on it.”

The Economic Recovery Group (ERG), composed of 30 leaders from the public and private sector is crafting guidance to assist businesses in a safe reopening. The industry representatives participating in the ERG collectively represent over 140,000 Tennessee businesses that employ over 2.5M Tennesseans. More information about ERG is available here.

Meanwhile, the Tennessee Department of Health indicates Sumner County is effectively a COVID-19 hotspot.

It's unclear whether Sumner County leaders, who challenged the Department of Health over the re-opening of Gallatin Healing and Rehab, will take on Gov. Lee and extend a Stay Home order for Sumner County well into May.

Officially, Sumner County Mayor Anthony Holt's "Safer at Home" Order ends on April 23rd.

For more on news impacting Hendersonville and Sumner County, follow @HvilleNews

Sumner Residents NOT Staying Home During COVID-19

NewsChannel5 points out that despite Sumner County becoming a COVID-19 hotspot, residents have been out in force, acting like nothing's wrong at places like Lowe's and Wal-Mart. Here's their Facebook post.

Despite a "Safer at Home" executive order signed by Sumner County Executive Anthony Holt urging people to stay home, shoppers were out in droves at places like the Lowes' garden center in Gallatin on Sunday. The number of COVID-19 cases in the county stands at 92 but is expected to jump dramatically once about 50 new positive cases from a Gallatin nursing home are added in.

For more on news impacting Hendersonville and Sumner County, follow @HvilleNews

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