Kaci Hickox was the first person to undergo the mandatory 21-day quarantine issued by governors of New York and New Jersey when she arrived back to the U.S. on Friday after treating patients for Ebola in Sierra Leone.
She’s not happy about it. In fact, she’s taking actions to argue it conflicts with her constitutional rights.
With all of the Ebola crisis news and national preparation, officials are now facing the question of what more they should be doing and what actions cross the line. Hickox’s case goes to show that some ways the government is trying to protect the public doesn’t necessarily make sense. But is it worth it, just to be safe? Or is this a breach of privacy and civil rights fueled by paranoia?
“We have let the governors of New York, New Jersey, and other states know that we have concerns with the unintended consequences of policies not grounded in science may have on efforts to combat Ebola at its source in West Africa,” the Obama administration official said in a statement on Sunday.
Hickox hasn’t shown symptoms for the virus but is currently being held at a Newark, New Jersey hospital.
Other news:
Returning health care works can be quarantined at home
-Following quarantine guidelines set on Friday and resulting controversy, some changes have been made so asymptomatic workers returning from West Africa can stay at home.
5-year-old boy who arrived from Guinea being observed in NYC
– The boy is not being quarantined and has not tested positive for the virus, but after reaching a temperature of 103 degrees, he’s being watched for now.
-Researchers in Canada, Britain, the US and Mali are testing drugs they hope will stop the humanitarian disaster unfolding in West Africa and prevent Ebola becoming as prolific as HIV.
