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Governor’s order limits indoor public gatherings to 10 people

David Royer

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee puts on his mask during a break in the state budget hearings Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2020, in Nashville, Tenn. According to a Vanderbilt University School of Medicine study released Tuesday, Tennessee counties that have not required wearing masks in public are on average seeing COVID-19 death rates double or more compared with those that instituted mandates. Lee has opposed a statewide mask mandate, stressing personal responsibility. He has instead allowed counties to decide whether to require masks. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Calling the state “ground zero for a surge in sickness,” Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee announced an executive order Sunday night limiting indoor public gatherings to 10 people.

The executive order states places of worship, weddings and funerals are not considered public gatherings. It also asks employers to allow people to work from home for 30 days.


Lee asked Tennesseans not to gather for the holidays with anyone who is not in their household, citing a surge in cases he said began with Thanksgiving gatherings.

Referencing Winston Churchill during wartime, Lee said, “We are in a cold, cruel phase of this pandemic. It will get worse before it gets better. I know you’re tired, but we’ve got to double down.”

Read the full Executive OrderDownload

Lee addressed the state Sunday night came during a recent surge of COVID-19 cases. Tennessee was cited this week as having the highest per capita rate of COVID-19 transmission. Lee’s wife tested positive for COVID-19 this weekend.

Lee stressed the importance of wearing masks. “Masks work, and I want every Tennessean to wear one,” he said.

The governor’s order, however, does not make masks mandatory. That prompted criticism from some.

“Since the best county in Tennessee at present has over 80 new cases/100,000/day over the past 7 days, we believe all Tennessee counties should be under mask requirement orders at this time,” said Dr. Kevin Smith, president of the Tennessee Medical Association.

The order goes into effect Monday until January 19.

The state did not release data on new cases and deaths Saturday, “due to the volume of tests being processed.”

The total COVID-19 case count for Tennessee is 509,998, an addition of 6,347 cases, the state said on Sunday. There have been 5,960 deaths, an increase of 115 new deaths.

The first healthcare workers in the Memphis area began receiving Pfizer vaccines for the virus on Thursday, several days after neighboring states began administering doses.

The state said 2,700 people had received vaccinations in the first days of availability. In Shelby County, about 0.04% of the population has been vaccinated.