Governor Bill Lee issued a safer at home order Monday, urging Tennessee residents to stay at home over the next two weeks.
“Today, I signed Executive Order 22, which restricts businesses that cannot possibly safely operate during this covered 19 crisis, including businesses like barbershops, salons, recreational and entertainment and entertainment outfits,” Lee said.
The order is not a mandated shelter-in-place like some states have implemented. However, Lee said he wants Tennesseans to heed the warning.
“We need you to stay home where at all possible your habits and your routines will make the difference,” Lee said.
House Speaker Cameron Sexton represents the Upper Cumberland. Joining Lee and the Lieutenant Governor at Monday’s announcement, Sexton said he understood how difficult the decision was for the governor.
“We’re all taking the public health of all Tennesseans, very importantly, as we continue and move through this role,” Sexton said “And as the governor said, please do your part and stay apart and continue to follow the CDC guidelines as we move forward. We want a healthy Tennessee. We also want a healthy economy. But that only happens by keeping Tennesseans healthy.”
The Monday total stands at more than 1800 hundred cases. With the virus now impacting 77 counties, Lee said he worries about the impact of the virus on rural communities.
“It means that it’s going to begin to affect these communities,” Lee said. “I’m very concerned about the economies of these communities. And the faster we can get this surge done, the quicker these economies can begin to turn. Their rural communities are more hard hit than others, often times, when we when we have downturns in the economy like we’ve got dramatically happening right now. So I do have some concerns.”