MEMPHIS, Tennessee —
In Tuesday's Ransom Note: You've probably never heard of Jim Coppinger or Andy Berke, but what's happening between them shows why Tennessee Governor Bill Lee's decision to lift “stay at home” orders except in the most populous counties was a mistake.
Coppinger is the mayor of Hamilton County. He says open it all up on May 1 just like the governor. Burke is the mayor of Chattanooga, in Hamilton County. He says no, the date should not be arbitrary but based instead on science and data.
Tuesday Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland extended his “stay at home” orders to May 5th, but what if, say, Millington's mayor disagrees? The virus won't stop or start depending on what street you cross.
Small business owners want more guidance as well. Social distancing is harder to do if you cut hair, wait tables, or give massages or tattoos.
Also, without testing how are employers supposed to know which employees can come back to work? What should an employer do if someone gets sick and tests positive? Send everyone home self-quarantine because maybe they were exposed?
We're all ready to start the road back, but let's slow down and have a plan. Politics should not get in the way of science.
Join the conversation by email (rransom@localmemphis.com), Facebook, or Twitter.