Lee to extend stay-at-home order through end of April, start phasing in economic activity in May

Gov. Bill Lee speaks at a press conference on Tennessee’s coronavirus response in Nashville on March 16, 2020. (Erik Schelzig, Tennessee Journal)

Gov. Bill Lee is extending his statewide stay-at-home order through the end of the month, with plans to phase out the economic shutdown in May.

Lee said social distancing will need to continue in public even as the economic shutdown is phased out beginning in May. He acknowledged that “some discomfort” will be involved over the middle term.

“Beginning in May, we will begin a phased reboot of our economy,” Lee said. “Between now and then we will create industry-specific guidance so that businesses can be fully prepared to operate safely and to protect their employees.”