Tennessee governor opposes mask command in state with high level of new Covid-19 cases

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Just in the last few days, the coronavirus infected a sick novel on the first woman in the state, Gov. Bill Lee into extended quarantine. The virus also spread through the University of Tennessee football team, inflicting coach Jeremy Pruitt and abruptly ending the team’s season.

Hospitalized patients with severe Covid-19 have put a lot of pressure on hospitals, but there are no plans to open a field hospital – as there are not enough health care workers to support one.

In a Sunday night video launch, Gov. Lee acknowledged that Tennessee is “virtually zero for an increase in illness. “

No states have more new cases than California, but adjusted for population, the Tennessee revolution is worse. Over the past week, Tennessee has averaged about 9,300 new coronavirus cases per day, the 5th-largest of any state in the country despite having the 16th highest population. That daily number of new cases is even greater than Pennsylvania, which has nearly twice as many people.
Skyrocket of infectious diseases and deaths enters Christmas week, and 'gets worse'

Tennessee’s sharp rise in new cases began in early November and is exacerbated by Thanksgiving rallies, state officials said.

Tennessee Health Commissioner Dr. Lisa Piercey said active affairs grew by just two – thirds over the past week. She said she was concerned that another increase over the holidays would “completely break down our hospitals.”

In his video address, Lee urged people to avoid indoor gatherings with anyone outside their home for the holidays.

“We just saw that Thanksgiving gatherings and extended indoor time were the main driver in the release of Covid-19 as a wildfire,” he said. “It only took a few days to see gatherings around Thanksgiving Day translated into a higher level of illness. Tennessee can’t sustain a similar rise after Christmas or New Year.”

But there is no mask command

Fans with a face mask and face cover enter the race track ahead of the NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race at Bristol Motor Speedway on July 15, 2020 in Bristol, Tennessee.
Despite the urgent warnings, Gov. Lee, a former businessman elected Republican in 2018, has opposed the aggressive actions taken by other states including New York or California and the rest of the world. that is on a therapeutic approach similar to North or South Dakota, the states with the highest per capita cases in the pandemic.

Crucially, Lee refused to issue a mask mandate, leaving the decision up to local officials.

“Many believe that a state mandate would improve mask wear, many believe it would have the opposite effect,” he said Sunday. “This has been a very political issue. Try not to get caught up in that and don’t misunderstand my belief in local government on this issue. Masks work and I want one of the Tennessean on it. “

The CDC says masks protect others in addition to the wearer, and the White House coronavirus action group has spent months on states urging everyone to wear a mask.
These GOP regulators have long opposed mask orders and coronavirus rules. Now their states are in crisis.

Lee’s order of action also restricted indoor gatherings to 10 people – but excluded churches, weddings and funerals, intimate gatherings ripe for the Covid-19 release.

His refusal to take more aggressive actions has angered Fear and Protect My Care, a coalition of health care workers who have been in state mask for months.

“Gov. Lee, this is not a time for half steps, gaps or symbolic moves. We need action. We need to take concrete steps to control the virus. We need you to find political confidence to do your part, and stand up, “said Dr. Aaron Milstone, an emergency care pulmonologist, according to CNN affiliate WTVC.
State Sen. Jeff Yarbro, a Democrat and Tennessee Senate minority leader, mocked Lee ‘s order as “action suggestion. “But other state Republican leaders supported Lee ‘s more restrictive approach.

However, Lee previously acknowledged that many people have gone against a mask despite what it wants. Last week, in talking about the coronavirus vaccine, he sharply criticized those who refused to wear masks as self-inflicted.

“One thing that this vaccine will not solve is one that will not cure self-esteem or disregard for what is happening to the neighbors around us,” he said.

“This vaccine will not cure stupid decisions about how we collect. It will not cure a scene of refusing to wear a mask. And it will not cure the idea that I will take my chances and not that affects someone else ‘s life. “

David Close, Raja Razek and Carma Hassan contributed to this report.

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