Finally got around to listening to Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee's Monday news conference, and *** I AM SO CONFUSED!!! *** 1/
On one hand, Lee told reporters that he did not impose a mask mandate because statewide mandates don't work, that people will only listen to their local elected officials. 2/
"A trusted voice in their community is their local official, the people that they elected to be their leaders," Lee argued. 3/
But, in Nashville where the local officials HAVE imposed a mask mandate, Lee said: "We know that people don't wear masks even when there's a mandate." 4/
So even local mask mandates don't work? 5/
Didn't Lee suggest Sunday night that local mandates do work? "Right now, 70% of Tennesseans are under a mask requirement," the governor said in his address to the state. "Because of that, 80% of Tennesseans report they wear their masks most or all of the time." 6/
But, by Monday afternoon, he had reached an entirely different conclusion. "We know that, despite the fact that 70 percent of our people are under a mandate, there are a lot of people who don't wear masks," Lee told reporters. 7/
Wait, local mandates don't work? "I think if they are instituted locally, people have more compulsion to wear. So I've encouraged mayors to do that," Lee said on Monday. 8/
(He has only given that authority to county mayors, but city mayors - who are presumably even closer to their constituents - do not have that authority.) 9/
So, if people will not listen to state officials -- and only want to hear from their local elected officials (but won't really listen to them) -- what was the purpose of his statewide address? 10/
"I made a very strong attempt last night to cut through the politics of this and to say 'Here's what the governor wants you to do.'" 11/
In the end, Lee suggested, the responsibility is on the news media to communicate the importance of masks and social distancing -- the same news media accused by his fellow Republicans in the House of "mask shaming." 12/
"Quite frankly," the governor told reporters Monday, "you could be very helpful in this process by saying 'the governor wants everyone to wear a mask.'" 13/
Wouldn't a statewide mask mandate communicate that message? "What we need," Lee said, "is for you and others to focus on Tennesseans wearing masks and not focus on whether or not someone has a mandate. That's what we need." 14/
QUICK ANALYSIS: @GovBillLee's statewide #COVID19 address tonight doesn't change much. No statewide mask mandate, just continuing to urge people to wear masks because it's the right thing to do. He has not always set the example himself. 1/
Lee's Executive Order limits social gatherings to fewer than 10 people. Exempted are churches, funerals and big weddings although it is "strongly encouraged" that any large public celebrations of weddings and funerals be postponed. 2/
The limitation on social gatherings also does not apply to venues that may host multiple social gatherings of fewer than 10 people, as long as they are social distanced. No restriction on restaurant capacity or bars. 3/
BREAKING: Tennessee Department of Health releases data breaking out #COVID19 numbers that should have been reported yesterday. HEADLINE: State surpasses 6,000 deaths, hits a whopping 30.46% positivity rate. DETAILED ANALYSIS TO FOLLOW. 1/
Looking at raw data, while there were 6,347 new #COVID19 cases that would have been reported yesterday (except for data issues), today's report will be 9,689 - for combined total of 16,036 new cases in Tennessee for the last two days. 2/
Here is the follow-up tweet for today's numbers. 3/
As we await Tennessee @GovBillLee's 7 p.m. #COVID19 announcement, here are the recommendations for Tennessee this past week from the White House: "Face masks must be required in all public settings statewide to reduce transmission across the state." 1/
"All public health officials must make it clear that if you are over 65 or with significant health conditions, you should not enter any indoor public spaces where anyone is unmasked due to the immediate risk to your health; you should have groceries and medications delivered." 2/
Under 40? "You need to assume you became infected if you gathered beyond your immediate household. Most likely, you will not have symptoms; however, you are dangerous to others and you must isolate away from anyone at increased risk for severe disease and get tested." 3/
BREAKING: This is officially the WORST WEEK... and the WORST MONTH... of the #COVID19 pandemic in Tennessee in terms of new cases and new reported deaths. BRIEF ANALYSIS TO FOLLOW 1/
So far in December, 129,158 Tennesseans have tested positive for #COVID19. Get this: at this rate, we are on track for 222,000 cases this month alone. 2/
With 1,358 #COVID19 deaths so far in the month of December in Tennessee, we are on track for more than 1,300 deaths this month. 3/
Looking at the chart, it's stunning to think that we thought July was bad. 2/
1,300 of those new #COVID19 cases in Tennessee today are school-age children (ages 5-18) -- also a new daily record. Again, while children are not likely to suffer as greatly as others, they have vulnerable teachers and family members. 3/
BREAKING: Tennessee reports 6,691 new #COVID19 cases and 73 new deaths, easily making this the worst week of the pandemic on both fronts. DETAILED ANALYSIS TO FOLLOW 1/