Tennessee Governor Bill Lee said yesterday he couldn’t have imagined the quick surge in COVID-19 cases following the Thanksgiving holiday, and a group of Tennessee doctors has a short but strong response.

“We did. You ignored us”

The words from Dr. Amy Gordon Bono come after she and three other doctors delivered their own Thanksgiving warning in the form of a news conference intended to reach Governor Lee back on November 18, 2020.

The same group of doctors has vocalized what they say is a need for Governor Lee to implement a statewide mask mandate to mitigate the spread of the virus.

Replying to the Governor’s comments, Dr. Jason Martin said, “Governor Lee, you’ve called on Tennesseans to do their part, to exercise personal responsibility in the fight against COVID-19, but sir, where is your responsibility?”

Governor Lee acknowledged the state is moving in the wrong direction when it comes to the coronavirus.

“There is a darkness before the dawn happening right here in Tennessee and we have to recognize that,” Governor Lee said.

He also sympathized with healthcare professionals, despite their urgent pleas for a statewide mask mandate.

The Tennessee Department of Health reported 8,945 new COVID-19 cases yesterday, bringing the state’s total case count to 493,230. The state also marked a record-high of 177 additional deaths yesterday.