Tennessee has emerged as an epicenter of the latest wave of COVID-19 in the U.S., as the state recorded the highest rate of new infections last week, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Dice.
The state averaged almost 128 new infections per 100,000 people in the past week, the highest rate of any other state. California recorded the second highest rate, with 111.2 daily infections per 100,000 people. Tennessee reported more than 546,000 cases and 6,430 deaths, according to the state health department.
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“This week is usually a time when families from all over the state come together to celebrate. Unfortunately, these are not normal times, ”Tennessee Governor Bill Lee (R) said Wednesday
“Our state is ground zero for an outbreak of COVID-19 and we need Tennesseans [do] your part, ”he said, urging residents to wear masks, social distance and meet only with people in their home during Christmas.
Earlier this week, Lee issued executive orders extending Tennessee’s state of emergency to February and allowing county mayors to serve masked mandates, but he refused to issue a statewide mandate. He also issued an order limiting the internal public meeting to just 10 people.
Lee announced on Sunday that Tennessee’s first lady, Maria Lee, tested positive for COVID-19 after experiencing mild symptoms, Governor Lee said he tested negative and would be quarantined just in case.
Health officials also warned on Sunday that the state could “break” its hospital systems if residents did not slow the spread by staying at home and wearing masks.
“We want to preserve access to hospitals. If there is another sudden increase at Christmas, our hospitals will be destroyed, ”Tennessee health commissioner Lisa Piercey said during a news conference, according to the Tennessean.
“Don’t meet with those outside your home. We have to change our behavior in the coming weeks. ”
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