May 1, 2020
For immediate release

 Johnson City ends Safer At Home Order; follows Governor’s Executive Order 30

 City Manager Pete Peterson announced Friday that the City of Johnson City did not extend its local Safer at Home Order, which expired at 11:59 p.m. yesterday. The City is adhering to Gov. Bill Lee’s Executive Order No. 30, signed on April 28, which allows Tennesseans to return to work safely while encouraging continued precautions to limit the spread of COVID-19.

Executive Order No. 30 includes health guidelines for individuals - including the same social distancing precautions Tennesseans have been engaged in since March - as well as employers. Employers must implement policies and practices to facilitate social distancing, temperature checks, sanitation, disinfection of common areas and reduced business travel.

“The health and safety of our community members remains our priority as we begin to reopen our businesses and resume activities,” Peterson said. ”Gov. Lee has worked closely with the Unified Command Group and Tennessee’s Economic Recovery Group to create a plan intended to open the economy while keeping our workers and customers safe. This is not a return to ‘normal’ but a calculated and limited opening of our businesses in a safe manner.”

The City of Johnson City is following the State’s allowance of restaurants, retail outlets and exercise facilities to reopen this week under specific guidelines, including operating at 50 percent capacity. Likewise, the City will follow the recently announced Executive Order No. 31, which allows dental service providers to resume non-emergency dental and oral procedures on May 6, as well as recently issued guidelines for reopening close-contact services and places of worship.  

“We reiterate the Governor’s call for every Tennessee resident to act responsibly following the recommended guidelines for social distancing, hygiene and wearing protective equipment where appropriate as they return to work or interact with workers in these industries,” Peterson said. “As important as it is for us to remove the burden of heavy mandates from our businesses it is equally as important for us to remain vigilant in protecting ourselves, our families and our community from COVID-19.”

To learn more about the "Tennessee Pledge" or find guidelines businesses and specific industries, visit https://www.tn.gov/governor/covid-19/economic-recovery/tennessee-pledge.html.

To read the executive orders issued by Gov. Bill Lee related to COVID-19 visit https://sos.tn.gov/products/division-publications/executive-orders-governor-bill-lee).

The City continues to offer the Safer at Home "hotline" email for questions: SaferAtHome@johnsoncitytn.org. Staff members are addressing citizen inquiries and concerns as well as assisting businesses in compliance measures.

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