Friends,
This week will see Tennesse and Fayette County starting to reopen. Governor Bill Lee announced the Tennessee Pledge last week and with it Executive Order 29. This affects how businesses, especially restaurants, will open and operate. Starting Monday April 27, restaurants can open at 50% and on Wednesday, retail establishments can also. The manner and restrictions for restaurants have been ordered by the Governor and removed from local control. While we see cases still coming in Shelby County and with Shelby County not opening until somewhat later, we are watching to make sure we do not have an influx of visitors from outside the county to businesses who are open. Following the Governor’s procedures for re-opening will be especially important during this period so that the disease does not take a stronger foothold here in the county.
Everyone is getting or has gotten quarantine fatigue. This is a condition where you need to get out and see someone or to get back to normal. We are still inside the epidemic and the data is somewhat confusing as to whether it is increasing, flat or decreasing. But we are still seeing new cases of a disease which can put a sizable portion of the infected into the hospital. The flattening of the curve has done what was meant. The curve was lengthened out the duration of the disease and the number of infected did not reach the level where hospitals could not handle the sick. Memphis hospitals currently have about 35% of the beds for the disease full and about 65% of their negative pressure rooms are being used. They still expect the worst not to arrive until mid-May.
Governor Lee is expected to issue more orders this week in relation to elective medical procedures and church meetings. It seems that hair and nail salons will have to wait a while longer to open. His press briefings usually are at 3pm and can be viewed online.
I renewed the emergency order for the county for another week. County offices will be at minimal staff and contact with the public will be under operational restrictions. Please call the office you need to visit to see how they are operating prior to a visit. Their contact information is on the County’s website, www.fayettetn.us. Check on social media for daily information.
Be Safe!
Rhea Taylor, Fayette County Mayor