Statement from VUMC President and CEO Dr. Jeff Balser Supporting Mayor Cooper's Roadmap for Reopening Nashville

"Balancing the need to restart Nashville's economy in light of long-term concerns around individuals contracting COVID-19, Mayor Cooper and his team have proposed a well-informed plan. The plan relies on key metrics to drive decisions to move between phases rather than a prescribed timeline, and also provides appropriate milestones as checks and balances for supporting public safety while advancing economic activity," said Jeff Balser, MD, PhD, President and CEO of Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Dean of the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.

Summary:

Section 1: Rules for Reopening

Recommendation #1: Data driven, not date driven. Data, rather than arbitrarily chosen dates, should guide the decision to reopen.

Recommendation #2: Clear metrics to determine when the economies will reopen and when to reimpose certain limitations.

• Sustained reduction or stability in new cases for 14 days
• Adequate diagnostic testing capacity and rapid test results
• Public health capability to rapidly interview "index" cases, identify close contacts, and ensure that isolation and quarantine are effective
• Health care system capacity

Section 2: A Four-Phase Plan to Reopen Our Economies

Phase One

• All Residents
• Age 65+, high risk individuals stay at home
• All residents work from home if possible
• All residents wear masks in public
• Schools closed
• No gatherings over 10
• Restaurants and Bars Serving Food
• Open at 1/2 capacity
• Clean all surfaces after every use
• Employees screened daily and required to wear facemasks
• Bar areas closed and no live music
• Bars and Entertainment Venues
• Closed
• Retail and Commercial Businesses
• Open at 1/2 capacity
• Employees screened daily and wear facemasks
• Nail Salons, Hair Salons, Massage, Etc.
• Closed
• Healthcare and Dental
• Routine and elective procedures under age 70
• Employees screened daily and wear facemasks
• Gyms and Fitness
• Closed
• Playgrounds, Tennis Courts, and Basketball Courts
• Closed
• Sports Venues
• Closed

If there is positive improvement or stability of metrics for 14 days, move to Phase Two.

Phase Two

• All Residents
• Age 65+, high risk individuals stay at home
• All residents work from home if possible
• All residents wear masks in public
• Schools closed
• Small gatherings up to 50 (meetings, religious services, weddings, etc.)
• Restaurants and Bars Serving Food
• Open at 3/4 capacity
• Clean all surfaces after every use
• Employees screened daily and required to wear facemasks
• Bar areas closed and no live music
• Bars and Entertainment Venues
• Closed
• Retail and Commercial Businesses
• Open at 3/4 capacity
• Employees screened daily and wear facemasks
• Nail Salons, Hair Salons, Massage, Etc.
• Open by appointment only; no walk-ins
• Limit number of staff and customers to 10
• Employees screened daily and wear facemasks
• Healthcare and Dental
• Routine and elective procedures for all age groups
• Employees screened daily and wear facemasks
• Gyms and Fitness
• Closed
• Playgrounds, Tennis Courts, and Basketball Courts
• Open with social distancing
• Sports Venues
• Closed

If there is positive improvement or stability of metrics for 14 days, move to Phase Three.
If there is a negative change, go back to Phase One.

Phase Three

• All Residents
• Age 65+, high risk individuals stay at home
• All residents work from home if possible
• All residents wear masks in public
• K-12 schools can open
• Gatherings up to 100 (meetings, religious services, weddings, etc.)
• Restaurants and Bars Serving Food
• Open at full capacity
• Clean all surfaces after every use
• Employees screened daily and required to wear facemasks
• Bars open at 50% capacity; no standing at bars
• Live music permitted
• Bars and Entertainment Venues
• Open at 1/2 capacity
• Includes tours, museums, theaters, etc.
• Clean all surfaces after every use
• Employees screened daily and required to wear facemasks
• Retail and Commercial Businesses
• Open at full capacity
• Employees screened daily and wear facemasks
• Nail Salons, Hair Salons, Massage, Etc.
• Open by appointment only; no walk-ins
• Limit number of staff and customers to 10
• Employees screened daily and wear facemasks
• Healthcare and Dental
• Routine and elective procedures for all age groups
• Employees screened daily and wear facemasks
• Gyms and Fitness
• Open
• Clean all surfaces after every use
• Employees screened daily and wear facemasks
• Playgrounds, Tennis Courts, and Basketball Courts
• Open with social distancing
• Sports Venues
• Closed

If there is positive improvement or stability of metrics for 14 days, move to Phase Four.
If there is a negative change, go back to Phase Two.

Phase Four

• All Residents
• Age 65+, high risk individuals stay at home
• Working from home is optional
• Wearing masks is optional but recommended
• K-12 schools can open
• Gatherings up to 100 (meetings, religious services, weddings, etc.)
• Restaurants and Bars Serving Food
• Open at full capacity
• Clean all surfaces after every use
• Employees screened daily
• Employees wearing facemasks is optional but recommended
• Bars and Entertainment Venues
• Open at full capacity
• Clean all surfaces after every use
• Employees screened daily
• Employees wearing facemasks is optional but recommended
• Retail and Commercial Businesses
• Open at full capacity
• Employees screened daily
• Employees wearing facemasks is optional but recommended
• Nail Salons, Hair Salons, Massage, Etc.
• Open by appointment only; no walk-ins
• Limit number of staff and customers to 10
• Employees screened daily
• Employees wearing facemasks is optional but recommended
• Healthcare and Dental
• Routine and elective procedures for all age groups
• Employees screened daily and wear facemasks
• Gyms and Fitness
• Open
• Clean all surfaces after every use
• Employees screened daily
• Employees wearing facemasks is optional but recommended
• Playgrounds, Tennis Courts, and Basketball Courts
• Open
• Sports Venues
• Open
• Employees screened daily
• Employees wearing facemasks is optional but recommended

As has been the case, the more we follow the guidance of our medical experts, the faster we'll be able to get back at it. Thank you for continuing to look out for your loved ones and neighbors.