MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Shelby County is surrounded by two other Tennessee counties – Tipton and Fayette – both with suburban and rural populations. Lauderdale and Haywood counties are also nearby. All of which means Memphis and Shelby residents will be paying close attention in the coming days to the reopening of businesses in those outlying counties – even as the coronavirus continues to spread.
Governor Bill Lee is allowing restaurants in 89 counties to begin opening their doors Monday, with retail outlets opening two days later. All with restrictions on the number of customers allowed at one time and with social distancing in place.
Shelby and five other more populated counties are not part of the governor’s plan. And Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland has said his stay at home order will remain in place until May 5th. But with our neighbors free to roam next week, how will that impact Shelby’s number of coronavirus cases? We’ll have to wait and see.
The big question for me has always been what factor is driving these governmental decisions? Is it public health, the economy, or politics? I believe Memphis and Shelby’s elected leaders have wisely allowed public health take the lead. While at the state level, it’s been a combination of all three.
Hopefully, Governor Lee’s move to end his stay at home order now is the right the call. Because if it’s not, all of us could pay a huge price. And that’s my point of view.