NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Mike Osborne) -- Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee and Nashville Mayor John Cooper have taken very different approaches to battling coronavirus, but now say they share a common conviction.
Both say they have no desire to impose any more broad restrictions on their citizens or businesses.
Metro and state health officials are struggling to bring a recent spike in new COVID-19 cases under control. Both city and state have this week reported all-time, single-day records for new infections.
Gov. Lee responded to the curge by granting local officials the authority to impose mandatory mask orders. Mayor Cooper reacted far more aggressively, rolling back his multi-phase plan for reopening the city economy and ordering the use of masks in public settings county-wide.
However, during separate press conferences Tuesday, both Lee and Cooper insisted they plan to use only narrow, targeted pandemic restrictions going forward.
Gov. Lee justified the approach by noting the severity of the outbreak varies widely across the state. Mayor Cooper noted the city’s robust contact tracing allows him to make targeted interventions.
