Gov. Lee Urges Tennesseans to Stay Home, Closes Nonessential Businesses

covid 19 tn response

Updated Monday 31, 12:25pm

In a press conference Monday, Gov. Lee urged all Tennesseans to stay home through April 15 and announced an order to close all nonessential businesses in the state.

Gov. Lee issued Executive Order 22, implementing safer at home guidelines in every Tennessee county to further mitigate the spread of COVID-19. The goal is “to better our approach to social distancing while also protecting the livelihoods of social distancing,” Gov. Lee said. The order goes into effect Tuesday, March 31 at 12:01am CDT and will extend to April 14, 2020 at 11:50 p.m. CDT.

“This is not a mandated shelter in place order,” Gov. Lee said. But “it is a strong urging for Tennesseans to stay home if at all possible.”

The executive order also restricts businesses “that cannot possibly safely operate during this COVID-19 crisis, including businesses like barbershops, salons, recreational and entertainment outfits.” Essential businesses can continue to remain open.

COVID-19 has been detected in 77 of Tennessee’s 95 counties and there have been 13 fatalities. More than half of the state is under some form of a shelter at home order.