Nashville Mayor John Cooper announced yesterday that the city will restrict gatherings in public and private places to a maximum of eight people starting Monday, Nov. 23. 

Vanderbilt will be updating their university protocols to limit in-person gatherings to eight people in accordance with the city’s new order, per an email Provost Susan Wente and Vice Chancellor Eric Kopstain sent to students on Nov. 20. 

Undergraduate residential buildings will be closing for winter break on Nov. 22. In the email, Wente and Kopstain encouraged faculty, staff, postdocs and students remaining in Nashville to review the Gatherings policy and adhere to public health guidelines throughout the holiday season.

“Please take care of yourself, your friends, your family and your community during next week, and through the extended winter intersession,” the email reads. “Those who plan to gather with eight or fewer people at any point during this winter holiday season can take steps to protect themselves and others by following key CDC guidelines.”

Officials are implementing the “Rule of 8” as Nashville’s 14-day new case trend is increasing as of publication, with an average rate of 52.2 new cases per day per 100,000 residents and a case positivity rate of 9.5 percent, according to Nashville’s dashboard. Vanderbilt reported a case positivity rate of 1.70 percent and 117 positive cases for the week of Nov. 9-15.

“Restricting social contacts is critical to stopping the spread of COVID. Please reconsider any plans to gather with people outside of your household, including Thanksgiving,” Mayor Cooper tweeted Nov. 19.