Tennessee health officials are worried about a potential surge of COVID-19 cases on Christmas, saying the state’s hospital system could completely crumble as a result.
What’s going on?
Tennessee Health Commissioner Lisa Piercey said at a news conference over the weekend that the hospital system in the state will crumble if there’s another COVID-19 spike.
- “If we have another surge over Christmas, it will break our hospitals,” she said, according to The Tennessean.
What’s happening in the state?
Tennessee has been the highest-risk place in the country ahead of California, Rhode Island, Arizona and Oklahoma, NPR reports.
Anything else from the governor?
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Republican Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee did not issue a public mask mandate ahead of the holiday season for the state, according to The Washington Post.
- However, Lee said there would be a new executive order to limit outdoor gatherings to 10 people.
- Lee also asked people to keep holiday gatherings to those in your home.
- “I understand deeply how much Tennessee families need each other,” Lee said. “But we must do all that we can to blunt this surge and keep more Tennesseans from getting sick.”