STATE OF TENNESSEE

EXECUTIVE ORDER
BY THE GOVERNOR
No.18

AN ORDER TO REDUCE THE SPREAD OF COVID-19 BY LIMITING NONEMERGENCY HEALTH CARE PROCEDURES
WHEREAS, emergency government action to limit the spread of Coronavirus Disease
2019 (COVID-19) continues to be prudent and necessary as the illness spreads rapidly throughout
our community; and
WHEREAS, on March 4, 2020, the first case of COVID-19 in the State of Tennessee was
identified, and 504 additional cases of COVID-19 have since been identified in Tennessee,
demonstrating a continued, increasing, and serious risk to the health, safety, and welfare of
Tennesseans; and
WHEREAS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises that the best way to
prevent COVID-19 is to avoid exposure to it, and exposure mainly results from close person-toperson contact; and
WHEREAS, unnecessary person-to-person contact within the healthcare community
increases the risk of COVID-19 spreading to providers and patients throughout our healthcare
system; and
WHEREAS, the American Dental Association and the Tennessee Dental Association
recommend that dental providers and patients contribute to reducing the spread of COVID-19 by
suspending non-essential services like hygiene visits and cosmetic and elective procedures for a
minimum of three (3) weeks; and
WHEREAS, the American College of Surgeons has recommended that each hospital,
health system, and surgeon thoughtfully review all scheduled elective procedures with a plan to
minimize, postpone, or cancel electively scheduled operations, endoscopies, or other invasive
procedures and to immediately minimize use of essential items needed to care for patients,
including, but not limited to, ICU beds, personal protective equipment, terminal cleaning supplies,
and ventilators; and

 WHEREAS, the federal Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services recommends limiting
all non-essential planned surgeries and procedures, including dental, until further notice; and
WHEREAS, in addition to the other emergency management powers granted by law,
Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 58-2-107(e), provides that during a state of emergency, the
Governor is authorized to suspend laws and rules regarding the conduct of state business if
necessary to cope with the emergency, order evacuations from certain areas, make orders
concerning entry and exit and the occupancy of premises within an emergency area, and take
measures concerning the conduct of civilians and the calling of public meetings and gatherings,
among other things; and
WHEREAS, the temporary suspension of selected state laws and rules and the other
measures contained herein are necessary to facilitate the response to the current emergency.
NOW THEREFORE, I, Bill Lee, Governor of the State of Tennessee, by virtue of the
power and authority vested in me by the Tennessee Constitution and other applicable law, in light
of the continuing state of emergency to facilitate the response to COVID-19, do hereby order the
following statewide:
1.

Dental service providers in the State of Tennessee, including but not limited to
dentists, pediatric dentists, orthodontists, oral surgeons, periodontists,
prosthodontists, and endodontists, shall not perform any non-emergency dental or
oral procedures. Non-emergency dental or oral procedures include hygiene visits,
cosmetic procedures, and other elective procedures. Emergency procedures for
patients with acute dental or oral needs may still be performed, including treatment
for pain, swelling, trauma, or an abscess.

2.

All hospitals and surgical outpatient facilities in the State of Tennessee shall not
perform non-essential procedures, which includes any medical procedure that is not
necessary to address a medical emergency or to preserve the health and safety of a
patient, as determined by a licensed medical provider. All hospitals and
freestanding surgical outpatient facilities must postpone through the expiration of
this Order, at a minimum, joint replacement, bariatric surgery, and cosmetic
surgery, except for emergency or trauma-related surgery where postponement
would significantly impact the health, safety, or welfare of the patient. Medical
procedures excluded from postponement include, but are not limited to, surgeries
related to advanced cardiovascular disease (including coronary artery disease, heart
failure, and arrhythmias) that would prolong life; oncological testing, treatment,
and related procedures; pregnancy-related visits and procedures, including labor
and delivery; organ transplantation; procedures related to dialysis; and emergency
or trauma-related procedures where postponement would significantly impact the
health, safety, and welfare of the patient.

3.

Non-hospital healthcare providers impacted by this Order are requested and
encouraged to provide necessary personal protective equipment in their possession
and not required for the emergency care exempted in the Order, including, but not

 limited to, medical gowns, N95 masks, surgical masks, TYVEK suits, boot covers,
gloves, and/or eye protection to the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency by
delivering such equipment to the nearest open Tennessee National Guard Armory
listed on the TEMA website (www.tn.gov/tema) between the hours of 9:00 a.m.
and 2:00 p.m.
4.

Any state or local law, order, rule, or regulation that would limit the application of
this Order is hereby suspended.

5.

This Order shall be effective and enforceable at 12:01 a.m., Central Daylight Time,
on March 24, 2020, and shall remain in effect until 12:01 a.m., Central Daylight
Time, on April 13, 2020, at which time the suspension of any state laws and rules
and the other provisions of this Order shall cease and be of no further force or effect.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have subscribed my signature and caused the Great Seal of the State
of Tennessee to be affixed this 23rd day of March, 2020.

RECEIVED
2020 MAR 23 PM 1:04
SECRETA RY OF STATE
PUBLICATIONS
ATTEST:

GOVERNOR