NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Mike Osborne) -- Nashville moved to Phase Three of its economic recovery plan Monday, even as it recorded its worst week for new infections since the pandemic began.
The city logged a record 1167 new infections over the past seven days. It also recorded two new single day highs for confirmed infections. This past Monday Metro health officials reported 300 new cases. Another 279 cases were reported on Friday.
The uptick in new COVID-19 infections is part of a nationwide trend. National media reports indicate more than 20 states are experiencing a surge in new cases.
Asked this past week why officials are moving to further open the city’s economy given the troubling numbers, Coronavirus Task Force Chair Dr. Alex Jahangir told reporters he believes the city now has the tools in place to effectively manage the virus.
He also noted that new data provided by the city’s expanded contact tracing team suggests the growing infection rates are not due to increased business activity, but are instead due to interactions in small group gatherings. He says Nashvillians are failing to observe proper social distancing protocols when visiting with family and friends.
With the beginning of Roadmap to Recovery Phase Three, retail outlets, and restaurants will be continue to operate at 50 percent occupancy as long as they maintain social distancing protocols.
Close contact businesses, museums, and exercise facilities will also continue at 50 percent capacity.
Bars, tours, transportainment operations, social clubs, small venues and event spaces will reopen for the first time at 50 percent capacity.
Mayor John Cooper says the city will continue observing Phase Three restrictions for at least four weeks. Health officials are asking Nashvillians to report any business that fails to observe coronavirus guidelines.
You can review the complete list of Phase Three protocols for Nashville’s Roadmap to Recovery here.