By Carter Adams
On the way out the door, Kurtis Poole—a junior majoring in math and worship arts—grabs his phone, wallet, keys, watch, and mask. He racks his brain on a decent spot to meet up with his friends, but it’s not as easy as it once was.
“Centennial park usually works because it’s outside, and people are usually separated,” Poole said.
There is still a high threat level for COVID-19, and many students are looking for safe places to spend time with their friends and family. Trevecca continues to require students to stay socially distant, and wear masks unless actively eating and drinking or in their own residence. Restrictions still exist on visitors in residence halls and dorms, and students have to find creative solutions that are compliant with guidelines and regulations.
Sports games, plays, concerts; events that once seemed common, are now rarities.
When Bella Agee, a sophomore communication studies major, wants to go out with her friends, she chooses somewhere like Radnor Lake, a state park 10 miles from campus.
It has plenty of room for people to spread out, she said.
If she gets hungry, she might go through the Chick-Fil-A drive through, or get take-out from a place like Panda Express, since they still have no dine-in option.
While students look for their new hang out spots, some Nashville businesses are trying to provide COVID-19 safe locations for people to visit.
Ashley Moore, the general manager of The Picnic Tap in the Nashville Farmers market, starts her workday by taking her own temperature, and then sanitizing the tables.
“We try and sanitize everything about every two hours on slower days, and after every customer on busier ones,” she said
Moore only uses compostable cups and does not serve goods in any reusable dishes, as an extra precaution.
The health department requires all businesses within the market to wear masks, do daily health checks, and send any employees showing symptoms home in order to decrease the spread of the virus.
If everyone continues to do what they have been, and the customers do their part, the market will be safe enough to remain open, Moore said.
