Leaders of the Tennessee legislature have no plans to take a break from meeting or to dissuade the public from coming to the Capitol as coronavirus concerns — and the illness itself — continues to spread.

On Wednesday, Rep. John Ray Clemmons, D-Nashville, sent a letter to House Speaker Cameron Sexton requesting that he call for a temporary adjournment of the House of Representatives while federal and state officials work to contain the spread of COVID-19.

Sexton, R-Crossville, confirmed midday that he does not plan to do so.

"If we take responsible steps toward mitigation, such as temporarily adjourning the legislative session, we have an opportunity to potentially limit the scope of the epidemic," Clemmons wrote, noting that the next couple weeks would be "especially challenging" as the spread accelerates.

"It is incumbent upon us, as elected officials, to lead by example and act responsibly at this time," Clemmons wrote.

As of Wednesday afternoon, there were nine confirmed coronavirus cases in the state, two of which are in Nashville. Five others are in Williamson County, immediately south of the state's capital. Shelby and Sullivan counties each had one case.

Sexton on Wednesday said no changes are currently in order, but that he is in touch with Gov. Bill Lee and other state officials about the virus and will "take additional steps if they are needed."

The Georgia House speaker on Tuesday urged the public not to visit the Capitol, though the gallery remains open, and to watch proceedings via live stream, the Atlanta Journal Constitution reported. Their page program for youth has been suspended, and guests are no longer being invited to be honored on the House floor for resolutions.

Sexton did note that Tennessee also streams video of proceedings online.

"We welcome anyone who wants to visit the Cordell Hull Building, and all committee meetings and floor sessions are also livestreamed, which gives the citizens of our state another way to keep up with the daily proceedings," Sexton said in a statement. "Any member of the General Assembly who wishes to stay home certainly can."

In a statement Wednesday, Lt. Gov. Randy McNally's spokesman Adam Kleinheider maintained, as he said on Monday, that the legislature should continue with business as usual.

Kleinheider said McNally, R-Oak Ridge, is encouraging hand-washing, staying home if symptoms occur and otherwise "maintaining significant social distance," but did not elaborate on what that means.

Sen. Jeff Yarbro, D-Nashville, said he hasn't yet decided that the legislature should suspend meetings, but wants there to be a "very intentional decision made" to ensure the General Assembly does not contribute to negative public health effects.

"The legislature is a place where people come across the state by the thousands every week, and then redistribute back out to the rest of the state," Yarbro said Wednesday. "Not to mention being populated by politicians who are predisposed to shake every hand they see."

Connie Ridley, director of legislative administration, did not immediately respond to an inquiry about whether the state is taking any additional precautions inside the building.

In recent weeks, hand sanitizer dispensers have been set up at various public gathering points in the Cordell Hull legislative office building, including by the entrance, cafeteria and main elevator hub.

The glass office door of Sen. Sara Kyle this week remained closed this week and posted on it were signs advising the public to reach out by phone or email "due to current health concerns."

Kyle, D-Memphis, did not immediately respond to a request for comment about her decision to limit public interactions in the office.

'Nothing so pressing' to continue meeting, Clemmons says

In his letter, Clemmons wrote that he knew of "nothing so pressing before the legislature" worth risking the health of General Assembly members, staff and the public, but suggested that they could take up any major item in a day before adjourning.

The legislature could then resume ongoing business upon returning to the Capitol after the virus spread is under control, Clemmons said.

He also noted that he was not trying to create unnecessary panic or alarm.

McNally said earlier this session he expected the 111th General Assembly to adjourn in mid-to-late April.

That yet-to-be-determined end date will not only mark the close of the second half of the two-year assembly, which returned in January, but allow the many legislators running for reelection to resume fundraising for their 2020 races.

Members are barred from accepting campaign money while the legislature is in session.

Reach Natalie Allison at nallison@tennessean.com. Follow her on Twitter at @natalie_allison.

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