A video circulated on social media claimed that a Tennessee executive order authorized the creation of "quarantine internment camps" across the U.S.
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The video, posted on September 11, 2023, garnered significant attention with over 4,000 reposts on X (formerly Twitter) and over 100 shares on Facebook.
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Fact-checking reveals that the executive order shown in the video is authentic but had already expired by late 2021.
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Tennessee Governor Bill Lee signed Executive Order 83 on August 6, 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic to provide regulatory flexibility for hospitals.
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The order aimed to address the rising number of daily COVID-19 cases in the state, reaching over 2,800 cases per day.
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Executive Order 83 was initially set to expire on October 5, 2021, but was extended twice before finally expiring on November 19, 2021.
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The video specifically referenced a section of the order titled "Temporary quarantine and isolation facilities may be constructed," which suspended certain regulations to allow hospitals to set up alternative care sites.
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The purpose of this provision was to enable hospitals to use extra space, such as tents in parking lots or conference rooms, for patient care during the pandemic.
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Tennessee Governor's legislative director clarified that the provision did not create "quarantine camps" but allowed flexibility for hospitals to establish additional care facilities.
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There are no credible reports of executive orders in other states establishing "quarantine internment camps" as claimed in the video.
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