Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee (R ) signed an executive order Friday allowing mayors in 89 of the state’s 95 counties to issue local mask requirements if they experience a spike in COVID-19 cases.
The remaining six counties in the state already had the authority to issue mask mandates as needed. Several of the state’s largest counties have imposed a mask requirement.
“While our densely populated urban areas continue to have the highest COVID-19 case rates, our local governments expressed a need for greater flexibility in addressing a rise in cases and that includes setting stronger expectations around masks,” Lee said on Twitter.
Today I signed Executive Order 54 to grant county mayors in 89 counties the authority to issue local mask requirements in the event of a significant rise in COVID-19 cases.
— Gov. Bill Lee (@GovBillLee) July 3, 2020
The Volunteer State is among those experiencing a surge in cases. On Friday, the Tennessee Department of Health reported 1,822 new cases, bringing it to 48,712 total confirmed, a 4 percent increase from the day before.
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According to the Tennessean, some local mayors had issues enforcing mask policies before Lee’s executive order.
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Tennessee governor signs executive order allowing local officials to impose mask requirements https://t.co/wjSHCIdJEP pic.twitter.com/NjKsPlZcLp
— The Hill (@thehill) July 5, 2020
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