MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - Gov. Bill Lee issued guidelines Friday for Tennessee places of worship to operate, as the state moves forward with reopening locations where people can gather during the response to the new coronavirus outbreak.
The new statewide recommendations contradict stricter rules issued Thursday by officials in Memphis who now say places of worship should follow Lee’s guidelines instead.
Lee said places of worship in Tennessee should hold services under certain limitations, such as asking congregants to remain 6 feet apart and wear face coverings. Gathering rooms should only be used at 50% capacity and people who are over 65 or have underlying illnesses should not attend services.
Lee had earlier recommended that people avoid church gatherings, but he never mandated it. His new guidelines recommend for a “phased-in” process to increase access to places of worship.
“These suggestions are included as a courtesy for your convenience,” said a news release discussing the guidelines. “These suggestions are not, and should not be construed as, mandates or requirements.”
In the release, Lee cited the constitutional right to worship and freely exercise religion. He also said the suggestions will not be appropriate for all religions. Lee also discussed the church guidelines during an online news conference Friday.
Restaurants in most Tennessee counties resumed dine-in service Monday and retail stores were permitted in-store customers Wednesday. Gyms reopened Friday.
Lee said salons and barbershops will be able to open next Wednesday in 89 of Tennessee’s 95 counties. The state will provide guidance on masks and other precautions for those businesses.
Shelby County, which includes Memphis, is one of six counties issuing its own orders related to the virus response. Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland said Friday that restaurants and retail stores in the city can resume welcoming customers starting Monday. Employees will have to wear face masks and the businesses will be limited to using 50% of building capacity.
Libraries and places of worship also will be allowed to open their doors, under social distancing guidelines. Memphis’ rules announced Thursday had limited places of worship to 25% capacity for at least two weeks, but Strickland said they should follow the state’s recommendations.
“Gov. Lee has preempted local decisions regarding places of worship,” Strickland said during an online news conference Friday.
The state reported 11,891 total COVID-19 cases and 204 deaths on Friday. That’s a daily increase of more than 1,150 cases, many of which come from prison inmates at Trousdale Turner Correctional Facility, officials said.
For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. But for others, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, the highly contagious virus can cause severe symptoms and be fatal.
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Follow AP coverage of the virus outbreak at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak.
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