The mayors of Clarksville and Montgomery County are taking Gov. Bill Lee's statewide "urging" that people shelter in place one significant step further, saying local residents are "directed" to stay home.
County Mayor Jim Durrett and Clarksville Mayor Joe Pitts will direct citizens to shelter at home except when engaging in essential activities or services, practice social distancing and behave as if other people are infectious, according to a news release.
The direct orders are part of a new round of coordinated local actions to be taken Tuesday to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. The orders are planned to take effect at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday. The number of cases has been slowly but steadily climbing in Montgomery County. The Tennessee Department of Health on Tuesday afternoon reported 19 confirmed cases here, up from 13 on Monday. 380 local tests have come back negative.