Why is Tennessee handling the pandemic so poorly?

Anna Grace Herrin - Sophomore | Opinions

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, different countries have approached this event in multiple different ways: precautions, wearing masks, and staying at home. Their governments have given them guidelines to help lessen the spread and they have worked. One would think, with the success in containing the outbreak more effectively,as shown by such countries as Taiwan, Singapore, and New Zealand, that Americans would follow suit.

Tennessee, apparently, missed the memo on this as most residents have continued living their best life by having parties, visiting relatives, going masks, and basically refusing to believe the science behind the virus. Because of this behavior, over 670,000 residents have been diagnosed with COVID-19, and that's only those who got tested. At this writing, roughly 8,300 Tennesseans have died from this pandemic. Imagine the entire population of Nolensville gone. Every single person. It’s hard to comprehend.

Add to it the number of these people requiring hospitalization because of how severely sick they are. Now is not a good time to have a stroke, that’s for sure. People are overwhelming the hospitals and ICU’s.

For those who don’t realize how bad that is, let me put it in perspective, a full hospital means you cannot get in at all. You break an arm -- get food poisoning -- get in a wreck? Hospital staff has to choose who really, really needs to get in. Can you even imagine the burden on those healthcare workers?

Governor Bill Lee has not helped at all during these trying times. Many have begged him to, at the bare minimum, declare a mask mandate. He has refused, as have our local officials. On the official Tennessee COVID-19 website, which Governor Lee does endorse, it only recommends wearing masks to the population.

In the section about Attractions, Entertainment, Large Venues, And Events it states, “Face coverings are strongly encouraged for all persons (employee and guest) in public places where close proximity to others is anticipated. Businesses and organizations may determine to require the use of face coverings by those on premise where close proximity to others is anticipated. Businesses and organizations may determine to require the use of face coverings by those on premise.”

This is also stated in the guidelines about Restaurants and Education. The problem with this is that none of these guidelines have a mandate for masks, meaning no matter what the staff of any event, business or school says, people will continue to endanger themselves and others by not wearing a mask.

Now, I know that a mandate won’t change everyone’s callous behavior. I think it’s more than reasonable to make not wearing a mask against the law as well. Think about it. 609 people died in Tennessee in 2020 due to a vehicle accident. This state is rapidly approaching 10,000 deaths in a twelve month period due to the virus. Not wearing a seatbelt in Tennessee is a class C misdemeanor. Not wearing a face mask should be treated the same way.

Tennessee is in the Bible Belt. Where’s the do unto others mindset regarding this pandemic?

Many Tennessee citizens continue to keep the COVID-19 cases on the rise as reported by prominent news outlets like The Tennessean, The New York Times, ABC News, and WKRN. With government officials including Governor Bill Lee refusing to clamp down on this plague of anti-maskers and people unwilling to put others safety before their own selfish needs I doubt Tennessee will be able to go back to normal any time soon.