NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – More cities and counties in Tennessee on Monday issued strict orders for nonessential businesses to shut down temporarily and people to stay at home as much as possible to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
Memphis; Knox County, which includes Knoxville; Sumner County and Chattanooga were among the local governments to join metro Nashville in issuing the so-called safer-at-home orders. Tennessee has so far stopped short of the kind of broad stay-at-home mandates announced in a growing number of states, including California, New York, Illinois, Ohio, Michigan and West Virginia.
“For me, it’s about the right time for the right decision in the right place,” said Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, who added that “nothing is off the table.” “Every city is different. Every county is different. Every state is different. There’s no one-size-fits-all. There’s no guaranteed solution.”
The directives also strongly discourage any gatherings and ban those with more than 10 people.
Various businesses would not need to close their doors, including grocery stores, gas stations, pharmacies, laundromats and restaurants offering takeout and delivery only. Child care businesses will stay open. Key government functions will continue. Officials still want people to get outside for fresh air, albeit at a proper distance from others.