Kaci Hickox is free to go home to Maine, and stay there for the remainder of the 21-day quarantine.
The nurse, quarantined in New Jersey after returning from treating Ebola patients in West Africa, was driven to her home state of Maine in a private car.
Hickox had been symptom-free for 24 hours, said the state Health Department in a statement. In Maine, Hickox’s condition will be further monitored by officials.
Maine Gov. Paul LePage said he understands health care workers’ desire to go home after working in West Africa but “we must be vigilant” to protect the health of other people.
Hickox has raised scrutiny over the new mandatory quarantine policy ordered by Gov. Andrew Cuomo and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie for both New York and New Jersey.
As the first test subject of the measures, Hickox complained about being forced to live in a tent all week and talked about suing.
She tested negative for Ebola in a preliminary examination, but did have a slightly elevated temperature.
The governors’ new rule, first announced last Friday, is a more vigorous step than the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) requires. The governors are demanding that even those who don’t display symptoms must undergo the 21-day quarantine in their homes.
The CDC prescribed guidelines Monday, which ask those who don’t display symptoms to stay away from commercial travel and large gatherings, but each state can decide its own policy.
Only the U.S. military has shown the same prudence as New York and New Jersey—an army general ordered Monday troops returning from West Africa be subject to a 21-day quarantine.
Under Fire
The White House, the United Nations, scientists, and Hickox’s employing organization, Doctors Without Borders, have all jumped to criticize the plan, underscored by Hickox’s complaints.
Most argue that enforcing a mandatory quarantine on all those coming back from West Africa who came into contact with Ebola patients could dissuade others from volunteering in the three afflicted countries. Cuomo and Christie’s plan has been called short sighted and not based in science.
Even Mayor Bill de Blasio had a remark to make, saying Monday at a press conference for lowering the city driving speed limit to 25 mph: “What happened with Nurse Hickox was unacceptable and was unfair to her and disrespectful to a hero. That was not the smart way to do it.”
The governors have dismissed the disapproving remarks, stating that guaranteeing public safety in the two states trumps what-ifs.
After an anonymous White House official spoke against the plan, Cuomo elaborated at an impromptu Sunday night press conference that those quarantined at home would be on paid leave and be allowed visits from family and friends.
And while Mayor Bill de Blasio found flaws with how Hickox’s case was handled, he said that the governors’ policy could be followed in a more “thoughtful and careful and based on science” manner.
Speaking at a campaign event for Florida Gov. Rick Scott in Wellington, on Monday morning, Christie didn’t apologize for being tough on Hickox and other medical professionals returning from West Africa.
“When [Hickox] has time to reflect, she’ll understand” the quarantine, he said, adding that he is happy to send her home.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
