NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) —Nashville Mayor John Cooper is extending the city's Safer at Home order through May 8 as transmission rates and a 14-day new COVID-19 case trend are both less than satisfactory.
Non-essential businesses will remain closed, including dine-in services at restaurants, retailers, gyms and salons. In 89 other Tennessee counties, Gov. Bill Lee is reopening these businesses at a limited capacity this week.
Under the order, residents are asked to stay home unless they are an essential worker, need to shop for food, pick up prescriptions or visit the doctor or dentist.
Gatherings of 10 people or more are prohibited and everyone should wear a mask or face covering when leaving home. Residents should follow strict social distancing guidelines and stay 6 feet apart.
Cooper's "Roadmap to Reopening" is contingent on a four-phase plan that all starts with a stability or decline of COVID-19 cases within a 14-day period. New data released Thursday shows Davidson County is less than satisfactory when it comes to transmission rates and the 14-day new case trend.
Reopening of Nashville will be data driven - not date driven Cooper said. There are the criteria that Cooper said will need to be met for Nashville to reopen: Sustained reduction/stability in new cases for 14 days, adequate test capacity/rapid testing and PPE, enough contact tracing conducted and sufficient hospital capacity.
Phase One:
The following businesses will reopen with proper social distancing restrictions including operating at half capacity, wearing cloth masks, screening of employees and sending those home with temperatures of 100.4 degrees or higher and posting all information needed for staff and customers.
- Retail and Commercial Businesses
- Restaurants and bars (Extra restrictions for no shared condiments, others)
Phase Two:
If, after a minimum of 14 days in Phase One, the trend of new cases continues to decline or remains flat, Nashville may proceed to Phase Two. All health precautions continue per Phase One.
- In hospitals, emergency rooms, ambulatory surgery centers and outpatient clinic settings
- Retail and other commercial business open with physical distancing maintained and at 3/4 capacity, cleaning of carts, explicit expectations for frequent hand hygiene and wearing of cloth masks by employees and patrons.
- Restaurants and bars serving food from a menu may open at 3/4 capacity maintaining strict physical distancing.
- Hair, Nail, Massage and Tattoo Businesses can open but should follow the CDC’s guidance for employers including limiting the number of patrons and staff to less than 10, social distancing, no walk-ins, services by appointment only, spacing patrons in waiting areas, and posting signs not to enter and reschedule if ill.
Phase Three:
If, after a minimum of 14 days in Phase Two, the trend of new cases continues to decline or remains flat, Nashville may proceed to Phase Three of reopening.
- All elective outpatient and inpatient healthcare activities may proceed with screening and testing as indicated in Phase Two.
- Retail and other commercial business open with physical distancing maintained and at full capacity
- Restaurants and bars serving food from a menu may open at full capacity maintaining strict physical distancing.
- All remaining bars and entertainment and cultural venues are opened at 1/2 capacity, consistent with proper social distancing. This includes museums, tours, attractions, bowling alleys, movie theaters, etc.
- Fitness and personal hygiene businesses may reopen
- Allow small gatherings of 100 or fewer people with strict physical distancing protocols implemented at the gathering.
- Nonresidential K-12 Schools are reopened
- The following businesses shall continue to operate under previous guidance: Health care, Hair, Nail, Massage and Tattoo Businesses
- Social distancing measures would remain in effect for the following populations:
- Except when performing essential services, those over age 65 and those with high risk factors should remain safer at home.
- Work from home should continue whenever possible, and cloth masks should be worn in public
Phase Four:
If, after a minimum of 14 days in Phase Three, the trend of new cases continues to decline or remains flat, Nashville may proceed to Phase Four of reopening.