Governor Bill Lee announced last week that he is suspending Executive Order 74 on who can attend high school sports events. The executive order was suspended on Monday, February 1st. The greatest impact of the order suspension is…our cheerleaders are back!!! In addition to cheerleaders, the restriction on fan attendance has also been lifted. TSSAA member schools are encouraged to limit fan attendance to a number that will allow adequate social distancing. Masks, temperature checks, social distancing requirements remain in effect.
In December, amid the rising COVID-19 cases across the state, Lee passed an executive order limiting the attendance of high school sporting events. Last week, Lee passes a new executive order where he added grandparents of athletes and teachers to the list of fans eligible to attend high school sports contests, including basketball and wrestling. Since Lee’s executive orders in December, students who are not family/household members of players have not been permitted to attend high school sporting events.
The decision comes as COVID-19 cases across the state have been declining in recent weeks “Tennessee’s COVID-19 numbers continue to rapidly improve with almost a 60% decline in cases and nearly a 40% decline in hospitalizations because of the efforts of Tennesseans to wear masks, wash hands and limit gatherings,” Lee said in the release. “I encourage Tennesseans to keep up their responsible personal choices as we work towards a COVID-free Tennessee.”
“We’re proud that our member schools have been taking steps to follow the Governor’s orders and limit the spread of the virus,” said Bernard Childress, Executive Director of TSSAA. “It is vitally important that we continue to be smart and safe in our activities, wear a mask, wash our hands and practice social distancing at every athletic contest.”
