Mayor Cooper Says Nashville Will Remain in Phase Two Through August 16

In today’s morning press conference with Mayor John Cooper and the regular cast of the city’s COVID-19 experts, the mayor announced that while cases in Nashville have stabilized somewhat, the city will continue to operate in Phase Two of the reopening map through at least midnight on August 16. The city’s 10 p.m. curfew on places serving alcohol will also continue through that date.

This means bars and transpotainment are supposed to remain closed (though party buses are still seen cruising the streets regularly, and restaurants will continue to operate at 50 percent capacity.

Cooper referred to the current situation in Nashville as “serious but stable”, with the 14-day rolling total moving from red to yellow, and transmission rate lowered from red to green. The seven-day positivity rate is also down.

Meanwhile on Monday, Tennessee’s Gov. Bill Lee was advised by White House Coronavirus Task Force member Dr. Deborah Birx to close bars statewide and implement a Tennessee-wide mask mandate. Lee said he was not going to mandate masks statewide and felt it was not the best approach for the state at this time.

• Mayor Cooper Says Bars Will Remain Closed Through at Least July 31 [ENASH]
• Masks Are Now Required in Public in Nashville [ENASH]
• Nashville Continues Operating in Phase Two After Spike in New COVID-19 Cases [ENASH]