I want to clear up any confusion about the latest non-congregate sheltering order that is getting some attention.

I am aware there are internet rumors that incorrectly claim these orders allow children to be separated from parents without permission. This is not in our order and there is no truth to the rumor. Families will not be separated, and kids will not be away from their loved ones.

This order creates a funding mechanism to allow for federal reimbursement for those looking to create places for people to safely isolate or quarantine. It has been used in a handful of cases in Ohio, but not in any large-scale way.

Having quarantine housing options gives people the choice of a safe, comfortable place to recover from the virus while others can stay in the original housing.

The bottom line, neither FEMA nor ODH are going to set up “FEMA camps” for anyone to quarantine against their will. What we are doing is making available a safe place for people to stay when they have loved ones they are trying to protect and they have no other place to go.