To help educate Nashvillians and visitors about the Davidson County requirement for wearing face coverings to help stop the spread of COVID-19, Metro Nashville Police Officers are being provided with printed advisories to be given to persons they encounter who are not in compliance with the Health Department’s new order (see below).

A press release from MNPD said officers have been instructed to educate and warn citizens concerning the requirement until further notice.

Advisory Regarding MPHD Order No 8 & COVID-19

Pursuant to Order of the Chief Medical Officer of Nashville Davidson County, TN (the failure of which to follow constitutes a criminal offense):

Face Coverings shall be worn at all times by members of the public except as specifically exempted below.

A Face Covering is not required in the following settings and circumstances ...

 Within one's own residence or another's residence;

 By any child aged twelve years or less. Any child aged two years or less shall not wear a Face Covering because of the risk of suffocation. Parents and caregivers must supervise use of Face Coverings by children to avoid misuse;

 By persons who cannot medically tolerate wearing a Face Covering. No person declining to wear a Face Covering because of a medical condition shall be required to produce verifying medical documentation;

 Within one's own or another’s motor vehicle, provided the vehicle is not being used for public transportation or a vehicle for hire;

 Within educational institutions, public and private K-12 schools, private colleges and universities, trade schools, post-secondary, and technical colleges, provided K-12 schools comply with the conditions in Nashville Plan: A Framework for a Safe, Efficient and Equitable Return to School, as outlined at https://news.mnps.org/nashvilles-plan-for-reopening-schools/;

 By persons working alone in separate office spaces or in non-public workplaces that have more than adequate area for social distancing based on the size of and number of people in the space (either indoors or outdoors). Such persons must be prepared to wear a Face Covering when interacting with others in groups of 6 or more persons or in groups of any size where social distancing of more than six (6) feet cannot be consistently maintained;

 When wearing a Face Covering poses a safety risk or security risk. "Safety risk" includes, but is not limited to, where wearing a Face Covering may pose a risk to persons working on ladders or at height, wearing other respiratory protection, engaging in heavy physical exertion, operating heavy equipment, or operating in an

environment where a Face Covering hinders communications. “Security risk” includes, but is not limited to, an activity or transaction where establishing the identity of the customer or employee is important. However, employers are encouraged to structure work to promote social distancing and limit close contact as much as possible within workplaces where Face Coverings may pose such risks;

 When eating or drinking in public at a restaurant, bar, or other food or beverage establishment;

 While outdoors in public spaces unless maintaining a physical distance of six feet from persons who are not members of the same household or residence is not feasible;

 While engaged in outdoor work or recreation, such as swimming, walking, hiking, bicycling, or running, unless maintaining a physical distance of six feet from persons who are not members of the same household or residence is not feasible;

 While in a place of worship. Places of worship are strongly encouraged to follow the health guidelines in paragraph 3 of Governor Lee’s Executive Order No. 38, issued on May 22, 2020; and

 While in a building or indoor space owned, managed, or leased by the State of Tennessee or federal government. “Face Covering” is a cloth face covering, mask or other device to cover the nose and mouth of a person to impede the spread of saliva or other fluids during speaking, coughing, sneezing or other intentional or involuntary action. Medical grade masks are not required; coverings may be fashioned from scarves, bandanas or other suitable fabrics. The Face Covering must cover the mouth and nose of the wearer.

Except for the circumstances specified above, all businesses, facilities, commercial venues, and critical infrastructure sectors (including first responders) as outlined at https://www.cisa.gov/identifying-critical-infrastructure-during-covid-19

shall require:

1. Customers and visitors to wear a Face Covering while inside the business, facility, or workplace, or at a worksite; and

2. Employees to wear a Face Covering when physically interacting with the public or other employees.

Persons entering or walking through interior "Common Areas" of commercial buildings, residential apartment or condominium buildings, and residential cooperative buildings are required to wear Facial Coverings. "Common Areas" include lobby/reception areas, hallways, elevators, mailrooms, clubhouse/meeting rooms, and stairwells. The respective property managers/building managers shall be required to enforce this requirement.

Violations of this Order shall be subject to civil and criminal penalties, including punishment as a Class C misdemeanor

pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann. § 68-2-602.

COVID-19 is a disease caused by a novel coronavirus, previously unknown in humans, and causes upper-respiratory tract illnesses that can range from mild to severe, spread quickly, and may cause death, particularly in older adults and persons with certain medical conditions.

The Medical Director finds that an emergency of unprecedented size resulting from the natural cause of community spread of COVID-19 has occurred in Nashville and Davidson County. As of June 27, 2020, Nashville and Davidson County has a total of 9,226 cases, an increase of 350 in the previous 24 hours, and 101 fatalities.

The Medical Director recognizes that it is critical to continue maintaining 6-feet social distancing to slow the spread of COVID-19, but that the additional use of simple cloth face coverings or masks, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, can further aid in slowing the spread of the virus by reducing the chances of symptomatic and asymptomatic people transmitting the virus to others.

The risks of inaction are high for serious and possibly fatal illness for elderly persons and individuals with underlying health conditions, including persons with serious heart conditions; pregnant women; smokers and those with asthma, scarred or damaged lungs or chronic lung disease; diseases that affect blood flow to the brain; cystic fibrosis; high blood pressure; dementia; liver disease; diabetes; obesity; sickle cell disease; and those whose immune system is compromised such as by chemotherapy for cancer and other conditions requiring such therapy.

The Medical Director finds that it is in the best interest of the public peace, health, welfare, and safety, and to preserve the lives and protect the health of citizens of Nashville and Davidson County, to require that cloth face coverings or masks be

worn by persons when interacting in public places in Nashville and Davidson County.

More information can be found at: www.asafenashville.org