MEMPHIS, Tenn. — UPDATE 11-23-2020 - (SHELBY COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT NEWS RELEASE) - Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris and Health Department Director Alisa Haushalter are pleased to announce that the mayors of all Shelby County municipalities are in support of Health Directive No. 15, issued by the Shelby County Health Department on Friday, November 20th, and effective today, November 23rd, as a necessary measure that may prevent more restrictions and potential business closures.
Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris and all the County’s municipal mayors, including Arlington Mayor Mike Wissman, Bartlett Mayor Keith McDonald, Collierville Mayor Stan Joyner, Germantown Mayor Mike Palazzolo, Lakeland Mayor Mike Cunningham, Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland, and Millington Mayor Terry Jones have issued the following joint statement:
The Shelby County Health Department has put in place new measures to contain and eliminate the spread of COVID-19. While the authority for the issuance of the restrictions contained in any health directive rests with the Health Department, we, as the elected leaders of the communities within Shelby County urge all the citizens of Shelby County to comply with these restrictions so that no further restrictive measures and closures become necessary. Working together as citizens and business partners in Shelby County to support the Health Department’s directives is essential to keeping all residents safe while balancing the concerns of our local economy. We, as the Mayors of our Shelby County communities, ask for your support and renewed effort to comply with these rules in order to keep our community healthy and economically vibrant.
Shelby County Health Director Alisa Haushalter said, “The limited restrictions in Health Directive No. 15 are designed to combat transmission of the virus in enclosed spaces where people gather, including restaurants and gyms. Our ultimate goal is to reduce the spread of the virus and prevent illness and deaths in our community.”
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11-20-2020 - The Shelby County health Department has issued a new directive aimed at restaurants, gyms, and school sports.
The directive went into effect on November 23, 2020 at 12:01 a.m.
The following comes from the department regarding Health Directive No. 15:
- For any establishment that serves food and/or alcoholic beverages is required to:
- a. Limit occupancy to 50%
- b. Close at 10 pm
- c. Require patrons to wear masks at all times except when actually eating a bite of food or drinking a beverage
- d. Limit groups dining together to 6 people (but no more than 4 adults)
- Schools are strongly encouraged to suspend all school-related close-contact sports at this time.
- Gyms remain open at this time. All employees and patrons are required to wear masks or facial coverings at all times while in the facility, except when in the swimming pool or shower.
- Shelby County Government expects to be able to provide special financial supports of at least $5,000 for any business that faces closures of at least 30 days that is substantially related to Health Directive No. 15. More details will be forthcoming.
