Nashville won’t be getting a new mask mandate.
Metro Councilmember Joy Styles withdrew her mandate proposal on Tuesday night after encountering wishy washy support — as well as some staunch opposition — from her peers. The withdrawal also drew applause from some meeting attendees.
Nashville’s mayor and the Health Department haven’t been eager to implement and enforce a new mandate. They’ve instead focused on messaging about the importance of vaccinations. Some councilmembers, though, had been pursuing a new mask mandate and seeking to show political strength by not deferring to the mayor.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends mask wearing indoors for people who aren’t fully vaccinated and for vaccinated people in areas of high transmission. Masks are required in Nashville’s government buildings and on public transportation.
The state’s Republican leadership, meanwhile, has been pushing for a special session to discuss their opposition to COVID-19 safety restrictions.
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