Governor Bill Lee’s Executive Order 27 has extended Tennessee’s Stay at Home Order, requiring that all persons in Tennessee stay at home (except for engaging in Essential Activities or Essential Services) until April 30. The Stay at Home restrictions were originally set to expire on April 14 under the prior Executive Orders issued by the Governor.

The Governor had initially issued Executive Order 17 on March 22 (to be effective through April 9), which prohibited social gatherings of 10 or more people, directed restaurants, bars, and similar food and drink establishments to offer take-out or delivery options only, directed gyms and fitness/exercise centers to temporarily close and suspend in-person services, and restricted visitation in nursing homes, retirement homes, and long-term care or assisted-living facilities. Executive Order 17 explicitly referenced the Trump administration’s Guidelines for America (issued March 16) and assured that the Order did “not mandate sheltering in place” (Section 2). Executive Order 21 (issued on March 30) expanded the original restrictions to close-contact personal services (such as hair and barber shops) and entertainment and recreational venues and extended the application of the restrictions through April 14. Executive Order 22 (also issued on March 30 and confirming that Executive Order 17 & 21 would remain in full force and effect), urged but did not mandate that residents say at home and closed non-essential businesses (while providing for Essential Activity and Essential Services, as defined in the Order). In nominal response to cellphone tracking data indicating that there continued to be significant travel across the state (especially in rural areas), Governor Lee subsequently issued Executive Order 23 (on April 2), amending Executive Order 22 to require all persons in Tennessee to stay at home, except for engaging in Essential Activity or Essential Services, through April 14. Executive Order 27 now extends that requirement through April 30.

For all of us still locked away at home in Tennessee, Executive Order 17 allowed restaurants to sell alcoholic beverages for take-out or delivery for the first time in the state (Section 5), which allowance also continues through April 30 under Executive Order 27.