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| Judge temporarily quarantines nurse who treated Ebola patients | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The state of Maine won a small victory in its quest to quarantine nurse Kaci Hickox, as a judge ordered her to limit her movements and keep a certain distance from members of the public, at least until the court issues any additional guidance. | |
| This temporary order, issued on Thursday, said that Hickox has to submit to “direct active monitoring,” coordinate any travel with public-health officials and stay away from public places. It also says that Hickox has to stay three feet away from people while she is walking, riding a bike or jogging. The order stands until the court issues any other directives on Friday. | |
| Hickox, who recently returned from treating Ebola patients in West Africa, has vowed to fight any court order, saying such a move is unnecessary and would violate her civil rights. She has said she has no symptoms of the disease – Ebola is transmitted only after symptoms appear – and has been monitoring herself daily in accordance with guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. | |
| In its request, the state had argued that the time most patients develop Ebola is during the second week of the virus’s 21-day incubation period. Hickox currently would be in that period if she had been exposed to Ebola, state health commissioner Mary Mayhew argues. | |
| “The surest way to minimize the public health threat is direct active monitoring and additional restrictions on movement and exposure to other persons or the public until a potentially exposed person has passed the incubation period,” the filing states. For Hickox, that period ends Nov. 10. | |
| On Thursday, not long after Hickox took an hour-long bike ride, Maine Gov. Paul LePage (R) said that the state had tried to work with Hickox on a way for her to be quarantined at home but also able to take walks or go on bike rides without interacting closely with the public. However, he said that the negotiations with Hickox had failed. | On Thursday, not long after Hickox took an hour-long bike ride, Maine Gov. Paul LePage (R) said that the state had tried to work with Hickox on a way for her to be quarantined at home but also able to take walks or go on bike rides without interacting closely with the public. However, he said that the negotiations with Hickox had failed. |
| “As a result of the failed effort to reach an agreement, the Governor will exercise the full extent of his authority allowable by law,” his office said in a statement. | “As a result of the failed effort to reach an agreement, the Governor will exercise the full extent of his authority allowable by law,” his office said in a statement. |
| Hickox has become the central figure in the ongoing debate over how the government will deal with health-care workers who return to the United States after working in the Ebola-ravaged part of West Africa. Before being allowed to return to Maine, she had been under quarantine in New Jersey, which she criticized during a back-and-forth with Gov. Chris Christie (R). | Hickox has become the central figure in the ongoing debate over how the government will deal with health-care workers who return to the United States after working in the Ebola-ravaged part of West Africa. Before being allowed to return to Maine, she had been under quarantine in New Jersey, which she criticized during a back-and-forth with Gov. Chris Christie (R). |
| Public-health experts and medical organizations have criticized calls for quarantining aid workers who return from West Africa, arguing that such quarantines would be unnecessary and could deter people from volunteering to fight the Ebola epidemic there. President Obama on Wednesday dismissed calls for quarantines and more aggressive travel restrictions. He said that the people who serve in West Africa “deserve our gratitude and they deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.” | Public-health experts and medical organizations have criticized calls for quarantining aid workers who return from West Africa, arguing that such quarantines would be unnecessary and could deter people from volunteering to fight the Ebola epidemic there. President Obama on Wednesday dismissed calls for quarantines and more aggressive travel restrictions. He said that the people who serve in West Africa “deserve our gratitude and they deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.” |
| In its filing, Maine is essentially asking that Hickox be forced to follow the CDC’s recommendations for people returning from West Africa with “some risk,” which would include health-care workers who have treated Ebola patients while wearing protective gear. | |
| That category of people, the CDC says, should be under “direct active monitoring” for 21 days, which means being observed at least once per day by a health official, with a second daily follow-up by phone. The idea is to ensure that if a person does become symptomatic, he or she could quickly be isolated and evaluated for Ebola. | That category of people, the CDC says, should be under “direct active monitoring” for 21 days, which means being observed at least once per day by a health official, with a second daily follow-up by phone. The idea is to ensure that if a person does become symptomatic, he or she could quickly be isolated and evaluated for Ebola. |
| The CDC also suggest public health authorities assess whether a certain case warrants additional restrictions on movement, which in Hickox’s case Maine says is valid, given her close contact with Ebola patients. | The CDC also suggest public health authorities assess whether a certain case warrants additional restrictions on movement, which in Hickox’s case Maine says is valid, given her close contact with Ebola patients. |
| In addition, the state asked that any travel by Hickox be coordinated with public health officials and that she not be allowed to leave Fort Kent without approval. It also asked that she stay away from public places and gatherings, as well as public transportation, and that she keep a three-foot distance from other people. | In addition, the state asked that any travel by Hickox be coordinated with public health officials and that she not be allowed to leave Fort Kent without approval. It also asked that she stay away from public places and gatherings, as well as public transportation, and that she keep a three-foot distance from other people. |
| [This post has been updated. First published: 10:33 a.m. Last updated: 12:02 p.m.] |