After a day of nurse Kaci Hickox complaining about her treatment in quarantine after arriving in New Jersey from Sierra Leone, Gov. Chris Christie stood firm on the new rules.
New Jersey is not changing its quarantine protocol. The protocol is clear that a New Jersey resident with no symptoms… (cont)
— Governor Christie (@GovChristie) October 27, 2014
…but who has come into contact with someone w/ Ebola, such as a health care provider, would be subject to a mandatory quarantine order… — Governor Christie (@GovChristie) October 27, 2014
…and a quarantined at home. — Governor Christie (@GovChristie) October 27, 2014
Non-residents would be transported to their homes if feasible and, if not, quarantined in New Jersey.
— Governor Christie (@GovChristie) October 27, 2014
As I said on Friday, we & the @NJDeptofhealth will make those judgements were need be, what the most appropriate location for that is.
— Governor Christie (@GovChristie) October 27, 2014
IF the person is not a resident of our state already. — Governor Christie (@GovChristie) October 27, 2014
Obviously, if they’re already a resident of NJ then they can quarantine in their own homes under a quarantine order. https://t.co/ZK3zIAAaL4 — Governor Christie (@GovChristie) October 27, 2014
New York Mayor Bill De Blasio criticized Christie without mentioning him by name: “Anyone who has heard nurse Hickox explain her situation in her proud, compassionate, intelligent voice knows that what happened to her was inappropriate,” de Blasio said at a press conference. “Each government has to make decisions We understand that. … But the problem here is this hero is coming back from the front, having done the right thing, was treated with disrespect was treated with a sense that she had done something wrong when she hadn’t. We owe her better than that.” However, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said quarantines would remain, even if, like New Jersey, a state resident spends them at home.
“My practice has always been to err on the side of caution, hope for best, prepare for worst.” #Ebola pic.twitter.com/QPVotaMuV0
— Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) October 27, 2014
Different states are developing their own Ebola protocols. We think these protocols are appropriate for our region.
— Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) October 27, 2014
Hickox lives in Maine, meaning the state of New Jersey would not have been able to monitor her quarantine at home. Christie, though, told the New York Times that she’ll be allowed to return home for the rest of her quarantine.
The state of New York has pointed out that Doctors Without Borders “typically” pays healthcare workers wages during quarantine, meaning that Hickox is not losing salary.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member