Statement Regarding First Lady Maria Lee Positive COVID-19 Test
Gov. Lee Tests Negative, Quarantining
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Governor Bill Lee released the following statement:
“Maria began exhibiting mild symptoms of COVID-19 and it was confirmed this afternoon that she has tested positive. I am feeling well with no symptoms and have tested negative for COVID-19. Out of an abundance of caution, I will be quarantining at the Governor’s Residence and still plan to address Tennesseans about the COVID-19 surge tomorrow at 7 p.m. CDT.” – Gov. Lee
First Lady of TN Maria Lee and me long before COVID-19 came here from China
Gov. Lee will deliver a statewide address to Tennesseans regarding the COVID-19 surge on Sunday, December 20 at 7:00 p.m. CDT. Gov. Lee’s remarks will be broadcast on Facebook and YouTube.
But in a blistering Zoom news conference on Friday, Tennessee physicians with the Protect My Care group, who for months have unsuccessfully pleaded with Lee to issue a statewide mask mandate and other requirements, charged that the Republican governor s refusal to do so amounts to a failure of leadership.
Options available to the governor going into his statewide address include issuing a statewide mask mandate or just continuing to urge people to wear masks. He could also extend his current executive order allowing county mayors to issue mask mandates to allow mayors of cities and towns to issue mandates, in areas where county mayors have refused to act. Doctors were especially incensed by Lee s remarks a day earlier at Vanderbilt University Medical Center as he and medical officials celebrated the arrival of the new Pfizer vaccine in Tennessee and the start of vaccinations to protect health care workers.