Nashville Mayor John Cooper (D) announced Friday that the city will no longer require residents or visitors to wear masks, and announced an end to capacity restrictions on businesses.
“As of this morning, Nashville has lifted the mask mandate and all capacity restrictions. 301,700 Nashvillians have received a vaccine, which is life-saving and economy-saving. Together we weathered the storm of the last 14 months, and Nashville is ready for the rebound,” he said on Twitter, attaching a public service video announcement.
As of this morning, Nashville has lifted the mask mandate and all capacity restrictions. 301,700 Nashvillians have received a vaccine, which is life-saving and economy-saving. Together we weathered the storm of the last 14 months, and Nashville is ready for the rebound. pic.twitter.com/Rsms82884g
— Mayor John Cooper (@JohnCooper4Nash) May 14, 2021
He said in the announcement:
Starting today, May 14th, Nashville will lift all COVID-19 capacity restrictions. Last year, the spread of COVID-19 prevented our students from having a traditional graduation ceremony, and spectators from attending sporting events.
Now, Nashville is able to celebrate and gather in person. Six weeks ago, the vaccine became available to all Nashvillians age 16 and over. Everyone who wants a COVID-19 shot has had time to get vaccinated and build immunity, and this week the Pfizer vaccine was approved for 12 to 15-year-olds.
The vaccines are life-saving, and economy-saving. We need everyone to go get their shot. And please make sure your family, friends, and co-workers do the same. I’m grateful to our COVID-19 Task Force, Metro Public Health, and all our frontline healthcare workers for keeping Nashvillians healthy.
And thank you Nashville, for helping us safely reopen. Be well, stay safe, and go visit our local restaurants and small businesses.
The announcement comes on the heels of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) saying Thursday that vaccinated people do not need to wear masks or socially distance.
“If you are fully vaccinated against #COVID19, you can resume activities without wearing a mask or staying 6 feet apart, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal or territorial laws, incl. local business and workplace guidance,” the federal government agency said.
UPDATE: If you are fully vaccinated against #COVID19, you can resume activities without wearing a mask or staying 6 feet apart, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal or territorial laws, incl. local business and workplace guidance. More: https://t.co/FJMon7WlFO
— CDC (@CDCgov) May 13, 2021
Some have been resistant to Cooper’s announcement, and the announcement from the CDC, instead vouching for the continuation of COVID-19 lockdown restrictions.
“Doesn’t seem prudent, Mayor Cooper. I know you’re between a rock and hard place, but the plan worked well. People who didn’t wear masks in the first place are also not getting vaccinated. They are the disease vectors and they’re all around,” one Twitter user said to Cooper.
https://twitter.com/CRS8765/status/1393188967114215425
Actor Daniel Newman defied that scientists at the CDC after the organization effectively ended mask mandates.
“How stupid! Now literally almost no one will wear a mask again. You can’t enforce masks for only “some” people with the “honor” system. Why would the CDC put this out before enough people have gotten vaccinated?” he said.
https://twitter.com/DanielNewman/status/1392927845194899458
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Pete D’Abrosca is a contributor at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Pete on Twitter. Email tips to dabroscareports@gmail.com.
Photo “John Cooper” by John Cooper.