Governor Bill Lee has announced the order for Tennesseans to remain at home will expire April 30, with the vast majority of businesses in 89 counties allowed to reopen by May 1.
Governor Lee made the announcement during a news conference Monday and said the Economic Recovery Group is working with industry leaders around the clock so that some businesses can reopen as soon as Monday, April 27. He added these businesses will open according to specific guidelines that his administration will provide in accordance with state and national experts in both medicine and business.
The governor said his administration will work with Shelby, Madison, Davidson, Hamilton, Knox, and Sullivan counties and their health departments as they plan their reopen strategies.
Governor Lee said while he is not extending the safer at home order past the end of April, his administration is going to work with the major metropolitan areas to ensure they are in a position to reopen as soon and safely as possible. He added social distancing works, and as they reopen Tennessee’s economy it will be more important than ever for it to continue as lives and livelihoods depend on it.
According to the governor’s office, the Economic Recovery Group (ERG), comprised of 30 leaders from the public and private sector, is crafting guidance to assist businesses in a safe reopening. The representatives participating in the ERG collectively represent over 140,000 businesses in the state that employ over 2.5 million Tennesseans.
As of Monday, the Tennessee Department of Health reported there are now 7,238 confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 152 deaths, 730 hospitalizations, and 3,575 recoveries in the state.
As of 2:00 Monday afternoon, the health department reported there were 122 confirmed coronavirus cases in Mongomery County, Tennessee and 55 recoveries.
