The governors of both New York and New Jersey made announcements on Friday that each state would be enacting a mandatory quarantine for anyone entering the United States via JFK and Newark Liberty International Airports that have provided direct patient care for anyone diagnosed with Ebola in West Africa. All those quarantined in the two states will be held in isolation for a period of 21 days.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo explained his rationale for the new policy in a released statement: ""Since taking office, I have erred on the side of caution when it comes to the safety and protection of New Yorkers, and the current situation regarding Ebola will be no different."
In New Jersey, Governor Chris Christie echoed the statement by his counterpart in New York, saying, "I have been clear that we will take whatever steps are necessary to protect the public health of the people of New Jersey which is exactly what these joint efforts with Governor Cuomo will do with additional screening and heightened standards for quarantine."
Christie explained that by quarantining aid workers returning from West Africa, both New York and New Jersey would be "ensuring that any suspected cases are identified quickly and effectively, and that proper safeguards are executed."
Apparently, this decision by the two governors was not done with the approval of either public health officials or the White House--something that the Obama administration is reportedly wary of.
White House press secretary Josh Earnest said of the administration's plans regarding future decisions on whether or not to enact quarantines or travel bans, or whether or not to send more aid workers to Africa, "These kind of policy decisions are going to be driven by science, and by the best advice of our medical experts, and by our scientists that have four decades of experience in dealing with Ebola outbreaks in West Africa."
Yet Cuomo and Christine remain confident that they are doing the right thing by quarantining and feel it is the best way to protect the citizens of their states from contracting Ebola. "The steps New York and New Jersey are taking today will strengthen our safeguards to protect our residents against this disease and help ensure those that may be infected by Ebola are treated with the highest precautions," stated Cuomo.
