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Knox County has issued a "safer at home" order that allows only essential services to remain open in both the city and county.

The order starts at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday and will last for two weeks, Knox County Health Department Director Martha Buchanan said at a press conference Monday afternoon.

It also asks residents to "avoid gathering in groups of more than 10 people." Businesses with questions can call 311.

The county says a complete list of essential businesses will be available on its website, but Buchanan listed hair salons along with tattoo and non-medical massage parlors as examples of businesses that would be impacted.

Newsletter: Stay safe and informed with updates on the spread of the coronavirus.

Immediately following the announcement, the county website was not properly functioning.

“We understand the significant and, in many cases, devastating impact this will have on our families and local businesses, but we are hopeful this action will help save lives,” Buchanan wrote in a press release. “Now is a time for our community to come together and support each other in several ways: protecting those most at risk of serious illness and finding creative ways to support individuals and businesses most affected by this order.”

Buchanan said the decision came after the number of cases increased over the weekend. She said it was a "little more extreme public health measure."

When asked how the county would enforce the order, Buchanan said officials are relying on the people who run the businesses to make the correct decision.

"I think everybody knows how serious this is — how serious COVID-19 is — and I'm trusting our local businesses to do the best thing for our community and follow this order and close," she said.

Knoxville and Knox County parks will remain open but everyone is encouraged to follow social distancing best practices and stay at least 6 feet apart.

Buchanan also asked residents to be smart about using the medical system in order to allow doctors to treat the patients who need it most.

"One of the most important things we can all do is stay home if we're sick and avoid contact with people who are sick," she said.

The "safer at home" order is not as restrictive as a "shelter in place" order, Buchanan said, but is a new step in the county's plea to keep residents safe.

Last week, after Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon announced a state of emergency for the city, Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs posted a video on his Twitter account where he said he would continue to balance public safety with citizens' civil liberties.

The statement, seen as tough at the time, was preceded by comments of support for Buchanan as Jacobs said the county would follow her lead. Her lead this week means short-term pain for businesses, but Jacobs said it is necessary.

“This is something we’ve all struggled with because I think we realize that this is having a huge economic impact on our country and people are going to be out of work, both because of the virus and also efforts to combat the virus," he said Monday.

Jacobs continued by saying it is up to citizens to decide how this illness is spread or contained.

Kincannon agreed with the impact the virus could have on the city's economy. "While livelihoods are important, lives are even more important," she said.

As of Sunday, Knox County has nine cases of COVID-19, according to the Knox County Health Department website.

Sevier County also limiting businesses

The mayors and city managers of Sevierville, Sevier County, Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Pittman Center are “strongly urging” all nonessential businesses and services to temporarily close to the public through Monday, April 6, in conjunction with Gov. Bill Lee’s executive order.

Elected local government leaders in Sevier County do not have the same authority as the mayors of Tennessee’s largest cities, including Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon, who placed restrictions on restaurants and bars through an emergency executive order Friday.

“However, we strongly urge our citizens and businesses to adhere to this request,” according to a joint statement posted on the Sevier County government Facebook page Sunday.

Reporter Hayes Hickman contributed to this story.