Most of Tennessee's bowling alleys, mini-golf courses can reopen Friday

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced Tuesday afternoon that businesses similar to bowling alleys and mini-golf courses are allowed to reopen Friday. The move only applies to 89 of Tennessee's 95 counties. Health departments in Davidson, Shelby, Madison, Hamilton, Sullivan and Knox Counties will have to issue their own guidance on those businesses.

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee told reporters more guidance for how these businesses can operate, will be released Wednesday.

This comes as hair salons, barbers and dental offices can reopen in most Tennessee counties on Wednesday. The Governor says he will also release more guidance for businesses that have remained open during the Safer at Home order, including corporate offices, construction sites and manufacturing centers.

Tennessee's Coronavirus Task Force believes all of these businesses are able to open, because Tennessee continues to flatten the curve. However, Dr. Lisa Piercey, the state's Commissioner of Health, warned that the case count may spike again this week because of testing at state prisons.

"We expect our case numbers to go up because of that. That doesn't cause us alarm, but we just have to keep it in context that we do expect to see increased numbers then," said Dr. Piercey.

The state decided last week to test all inmates and staff at Tennessee prisons, after the Trousdale Turner Correctional Facility saw more than half of its prison population test positive for COVID-19. State health leaders are taking the same approach with nursing homes. They hope by more testing in both of these vulnerable populations, health experts will have a better idea of how the virus is moving across the state.