Just a few hours ago the CDC lifted mask recommendations, even indoors, for fully vaccinated individuals. A mere couple of hours later, Mayor John Cooper said "jk lol," at least as it pertains to the Nashville Metro.
The Metro Nashville Public Health Department announced that it's indoor mask requirement WILL remain in place for the foreseeable future.
In a statement released on Thursday afternoon, the Health Department states:
The Metro Public Health Department is encouraged by the recently updated guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, further emphasizing the importance of widespread COVID-19 vaccination. We look forward to a time when more of our county’s population is vaccinated, allowing mask requirements to safely be dropped altogether in public settings. With less than half of Davidson County residents vaccinated, and Tennessee lagging the national average among people that are fully vaccinated, dropping of mask requirements at this time in high-risk settings is not feasible. In addition, we are just now vaccinating our 12-15 year-olds and this will give them time to become vaccinated. As we continue to reopen over the next few weeks the need for masks indoors will continue to be evaluated, but at this time the mask mandate will remain in place.
It's not all bad news for Nashvillians. The capacity restrictions that have been in place for months will be lifted as of tomorrow, allowing full capacity inside business and at event venues. The Nashville Sounds have already announced a nearly 100% capacity for all home games this year, and the NHL is allowing up to 12,000 fans inside arenas during the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Outside of the city of Nashville, there has never been a mask mandate, and most counties lifted their requirements several weeks ago, so very little changes in that department.
A little different tune to our north in Kentucky, where Governor Andy Beshear will change its mask requirements to reflect the CDC's latest recommendations.
How do you feel about Metro Health's handling of the situation? Do you agree that the mask requirement should stay in effect?