Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke signed an executive order on Monday that mandates additional steps to limit community exposure to the virus and protect workers.
Effective at midnight on Wednesday, the following businesses will be required to close:
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Indoor areas of shopping malls and all retail stores
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Salons, beauty shops, and barbershops
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Massage parlors, spas, tanning salons, and tattoo parlors
For those workplaces that do remain open, all workers should have their temperatures checked by their employers upon entering and exiting their place of business.
Employees who are feverish should be immediately sent home to self-quarantine and seek medical care.
Additionally, all public gatherings of any size are to be suspended until further notice, including worship services, funerals, festivals, fairs, and public performances. City parks are still open but public access has been suspended at City playgrounds, basketball courts, baseball fields, soccer fields, the Chattanooga Skate Park, and the hockey rink for now.
Hamilton Place Mall and Northgate Mall were closed indefinitely after the order.
“I know this is a frustrating and strange time for all of us. Chattanooga prides itself on its sociability and love of community. This is really tough, but knowing how quickly this vicious disease can spread -- even by individuals who show no symptoms -- we have to ask for your patience and sacrifice at this time,” Mayor Berke said. “Other cities who have failed to do this have seen their emergency rooms and intensive care units completely overwhelmed for weeks on end, and we desperately want to avoid that here.”
Today’s executive order follows similar “Safer At Home” orders provided by the mayors of Nashville, Memphis, and Knoxville, he said.
“As the city receives more guidance from the Tennessee Department of Health and CDC, we may have to take even more actions,” Mayor Berke added. “This is a public health crisis without precedent in our country, and we anticipate that it will take some time before it is fully under control. The sooner and more seriously we commit ourselves to social distancing and remaining in our homes, the sooner we can get through it.”
On Friday, March 20 Mayor Berke signed Executive Order 2020-03, which provides the mayor with additional emergency management powers during a period of civil emergency, particularly related to obtaining equipment, materials, and supplies for emergency response purposes.
Here is what Mayor Berke said,
"First of all, I want to thank everyone in Chattanooga for taking the appropriate steps they need to take to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19. Data from all over the world shows us that this disease spreads extremely quickly and its mortality rate is still largely unknown. Protecting the public's health continues to be my top priority, and the most effective way to do that is through social distancing and staying at home for all but the most essential reasons.
"That's why today I'm announcing additional steps to limit your exposure to the virus and protect workers. Effective at midnight on March 25, 2020, we will require the following business to close:
- Indoor areas of shopping malls and all retail stores (with the exception of grocery stores)
- Hair and Nail Salons, beauty shops, and barbershops
- Massage parlors, spas, tanning salons, and tattoo parlors
"For those workplaces that do remain open, all workers should have their temperatures checked by their employer upon entering and exiting their place of business. Employees who are feverish should be immediately sent home to self-quarantine and seek medical care.
"I'm also requesting that all public gatherings of any size be suspended until further notice, including worship services, funerals, festivals, fairs, and public performances. City parks are still open but we've suspended access at our public playgrounds, basketball courts, baseball fields, soccer fields, the Chattanooga Skate Park, and the hockey rink for now.
"Most importantly, I want you to stay home. This means no dinner parties or movie nights. It means no playdates for your kids and their friends. It means no in-person interactions of any size, for any reason. If you need groceries or medical attention, or if your job absolutely requires you to be at work, please take care of that. Otherwise, stay put. You're safer at home.
"I know this is a frustrating and strange time for all of us. Chattanooga prides itself on its sociability and love of community. This is really tough, but knowing how quickly this vicious disease can spread -- even by individuals who show no symptoms -- we have to ask for your patience and sacrifice at this time. Other cities who have failed to do this have seen their emergency rooms and intensive care units completely overwhelmed for weeks on end, and we desperately want to avoid that here.
"These are painful choices to make, and my heart goes out to the workers and business owners that are going to be impacted. These steps are largely consistent with what our friends in Nashville, Memphis, and Knoxville are doing right now, and we are all working together to make the biggest impact we can on slowing the spread.
"As the city receives more guidance from the Tennessee Department of Health and CDC, we may have to take even more action. This is a public health crisis without precedent in our country, and we anticipate that it will take some time before it is fully under control. The sooner and more seriously we commit ourselves to social distancing and remaining in our homes, the sooner we can get through it.
"Over the weekend, Governor Bill Lee did issue a new executive order that permits restaurants in Tennessee to sell carry-out alcohol with the purchase of food. I know this will be a huge help to many of the establishments that are struggling right now, and I encourage you to keep supporting them with gift card purchases and to-go orders as much as you can. The Chattanooga Department of Transportation and Chattanooga Parking Authority are allowing temporary "loading zones" near our downtown bars and restaurants to help patrons who are picking up orders. Please show your support!
"Please keep washing your hands, disinfecting everything you touch, and staying put. Your city needs you safe and healthy."
Meanwhile, the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce asked Governor Bill Lee to keep businesses open.
Dear Governor Lee:
The Tennessee Chamber of Commerce & Industry and the Tennessee Manufacturers Association deeply appreciate your leadership during this difficult time of crisis. We commend your efforts to keep Tennessee safe and businesses operational. Your unwavering decisiveness, strength, and confidence has positioned Tennessee as a national leader as we work through this challenging period.
One of the most important topics for the business community, during this crucial time, is ensuring critical business operations are allowed and that we strike the appropriate balance between public health and the production of critical items. These items contribute in a variety of ways to the overall public health and stabilization of essential products and goods. During this time, businesses, including manufacturers in Tennessee, are working to continue operating responsibly while doing everything possible to assure the health and safety of all employees, their families and our communities.
We understand that every decision you and your team make is thoughtful and deliberate and is aimed at balancing public health and business operations crucial to maintaining essential items in our overall supply chain. Considering input and recommendations from a number of prominent Tennessee based companies and from national business trade associations including the U.S. Chamber, National Association of Manufacturers and the American Chemistry Council, we recommend as you consider crucial business operations, utilizing the guidance identified in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s (CISA) guidelines. This recent Guidance on the Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce: Ensuring Community and National Resilience in COVID-19 Response is consistent and ensures the continuance of public health and safety, as well as the economic security of our state.
We support a consistent state standard that works with Tennessee counties, cities and other jurisdictions to establish a uniform crucial business operation standard during this crisis. We are ready and willing to work together to support this effort and appreciate your urgent attention in order to keep businesses, including manufacturers, open and operating safely during this national crisis. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or would like to discuss further.
Sincerely,
Bradley Jackson
President & CEO
Tennessee Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Tennessee Manufacturers Association