Hamilton County continued to reopen its economy on Friday in line with most other counties in Tennessee, authorizing gyms to resume use of showers and lockers and barbers and beauticians to offer beard shaving, trims and facials.
Under the new guidelines outlined in the Tennessee Pledge, close contact businesses could add more services and exercise facilities may now increase customer occupancy while still maintaining social distancing of at least six feet. The Tennessee Pledge also encourages non-contact recreation participants to continue to wear face masks while engaging in no- contact recreation activities.
Hamilton County Mayor Jim Coppinger announced the new guidelines but stressed that individuals comply with recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and still practice social distancing.
Last month, barber shops, salons, gyms and work out facilities were allowed to open for the first time since the coronavirus shut down most service businesses in March. Earlier, restaurants, retail stores and other businesses deemed non-essential were allowed to open with restrictions.
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee has gradually allowed most businesses to resume normal operations, with restricted crowd sizes, increased sanitation and personal protection measures and equipment.
“Tennessee is well on its way to a methodical, data-driven, and safe economic reboot,” Lee said. Over the coming weeks, it’s more important than ever that we all step up, do our part and continue helping our neighbors through healthy habits, social distancing, wearing face coverings, and remembering, “when in doubt, get a test.”
Lee has set state standards under the Tennessee Pledge for all but the six largest counties in Tennessee. Coppinger and the Hamilton County health department have generally followed the state standards Lee has set for the smaller 89 counties in the state.