Governor Bill Lee held a statewide address on December 20th, 2020 to speak to Tennesseans about the concerning upward trend of Covid-19 cases in Tennessee and to introduce Executive Order No. 70 which contains new restrictions for Tennesseans to help combat the crisis. Governor Lee stated that Tennessee is now the “ground zero for a surge in sickness.” Since Thanksgiving, Tennessee has seen a troubling rise in positive Covid-19 tests per capita compared to the rest of the country, which has mostly been attributed to large family gatherings during the holiday.
Hoping to stop a surge on top of a surge, Governor Lee pleaded with Tennesseans to wear masks, limit holiday gatherings to one’s household, work from home where possible, and to limit public gatherings to 10 people. Governor Lee commended local officials for implementing mask requirements, stating that 70% percent of Tennesseans are under mask requirements now; however, Governor Lee stopped short of mandating a state-wide mask requirement under Executive Order No. 70. Executive Order No. 70 will mandate new limits on indoor public gatherings to 10 people.
In summary, Executive Order 70:
EncouragesTennesseans to work from home where possible: Employers are “strongly urged to take steps to the greatest extent practicable to equip, encourage, allow, or require employees to work remotely.”
Social Distancing and social gatherings: Persons “shall not in any event be in a group of ten (10) or more persons in an indoor public place for the purposes of social gatherings, activities, or events; provided, that this limitation does not necessarily prohibit ten(10) or more total persons from gatherings in a single place or venue for an activity or event if they are in a separate otherwise permissible smaller groups that substantially maintain six feet or more of separation from other persons or separate groups.” Places of worship are not considered social gatherings.
Spectator Sports and Athletic activities: Local education agencies and schools shall have authority to permit but aren’t required to permit sponsored sporting events, as long as those events are conducted in a manner consistent with TSSAA guidance and rules. Also, puts new spectator limits in place for sporting events.
Effective until Jan. 19th, 2021
The full text of Executive Order No. 53 can be found at
Print Page
Email to a Friend