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| Ban Ki-moon criticises Ebola restrictions placed on healthcare workers | Ban Ki-moon criticises Ebola restrictions placed on healthcare workers |
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| The UN secretary general criticised restrictions being placed on healthcare workers returning to the US after treating Ebola patients on Monday, as the White House insisted that was up to state and local authorities to decide whether to follow national scientific guidelines on quarantines. | The UN secretary general criticised restrictions being placed on healthcare workers returning to the US after treating Ebola patients on Monday, as the White House insisted that was up to state and local authorities to decide whether to follow national scientific guidelines on quarantines. |
| After the governors of New York and New Jersey relaxed new quarantine measures that were criticised by the White House and medical professionals, Ban said in a statement that he was concerned by controls being placed on medics arriving in the US and elsewhere. | After the governors of New York and New Jersey relaxed new quarantine measures that were criticised by the White House and medical professionals, Ban said in a statement that he was concerned by controls being placed on medics arriving in the US and elsewhere. |
| “Returning health workers are exceptional people who are giving of themselves for humanity,” said Ban in a statement released by the UN. “They should not be subjected to restrictions that are not based on science. Those who develop infections should be supported, not stigmatised.” | “Returning health workers are exceptional people who are giving of themselves for humanity,” said Ban in a statement released by the UN. “They should not be subjected to restrictions that are not based on science. Those who develop infections should be supported, not stigmatised.” |
| The secretary general’s criticism came shortly after New Jersey authorities said that a nurse who was confined to a quarantine tent with a portable toilet and no shower, despite showing no symptoms after returning to the US from treating patients in Sierra Leone, would be released and allowed to return to her home to Maine. | The secretary general’s criticism came shortly after New Jersey authorities said that a nurse who was confined to a quarantine tent with a portable toilet and no shower, despite showing no symptoms after returning to the US from treating patients in Sierra Leone, would be released and allowed to return to her home to Maine. |
| The White House appeared to accept that a patchwork system of Ebola restrictions was inevitable in a federal nation where public health policies were a matter for individual states. “We have a federal system in this country in which states are given significant authority for governing their constituents,” said White House spokesman Josh Earnest. “That is certainly true when it comes to public safety and public health.” | The White House appeared to accept that a patchwork system of Ebola restrictions was inevitable in a federal nation where public health policies were a matter for individual states. “We have a federal system in this country in which states are given significant authority for governing their constituents,” said White House spokesman Josh Earnest. “That is certainly true when it comes to public safety and public health.” |
| The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said later on Monday that healthcare workers returning to the US from treating Ebola patients in west Africa should be more closely monitored by local authorities. | The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said later on Monday that healthcare workers returning to the US from treating Ebola patients in west Africa should be more closely monitored by local authorities. |
| However only the highest-risk people – such as those who did not wear proper protective clothing or are known to have been exposed to the virus via a needlestick injury – should require quarantines in their homes, Tom Frieden, the CDC director, told a conference call. | However only the highest-risk people – such as those who did not wear proper protective clothing or are known to have been exposed to the virus via a needlestick injury – should require quarantines in their homes, Tom Frieden, the CDC director, told a conference call. |
| Under the CDC’s suggested “active monitoring” program, all returning healthcare workers should register with regional authorities and have daily temperature checks observed by an official, Frieden said, adding that this would help swifter action in the event of Ebola symptoms developing. | Under the CDC’s suggested “active monitoring” program, all returning healthcare workers should register with regional authorities and have daily temperature checks observed by an official, Frieden said, adding that this would help swifter action in the event of Ebola symptoms developing. |
| Frieden stressed that state authorities were free to impose tighter restrictions on the movements of returning healthcare workers. The new CDC guidelines “increase the level of protection of the health and safety of Americans, which is our first and foremost priority, while at the same time protecting those who are doing the heroic work of protecting us from Ebola as they fight it on the shores of Africa as well,” said Frieden. | |
| The fragmented response even among federal agencies has raised questions about the role of Ron Klain, who was appointed two weeks ago to coordinate a “whole of government response”. | |
| Even the branches of the federal government seem to be in disagreement over how to respond to workers who may have been exposed to Ebola. | Even the branches of the federal government seem to be in disagreement over how to respond to workers who may have been exposed to Ebola. |
| On Monday, the US Department of Defense confirmed that about a dozen troops who had been in Liberia as part of an operation to help tackle the Ebola outbreak were being quarantined in Italy after returning to base in Vicenza and reportedly met by police in hazmat suits. | On Monday, the US Department of Defense confirmed that about a dozen troops who had been in Liberia as part of an operation to help tackle the Ebola outbreak were being quarantined in Italy after returning to base in Vicenza and reportedly met by police in hazmat suits. |
| Earnest said decision to quarantine returning US troops in Italy was taken by local commanders and did not yet reflect official Department of Defense policy. | Earnest said decision to quarantine returning US troops in Italy was taken by local commanders and did not yet reflect official Department of Defense policy. |
| A US defense official told the Guardian the soldiers were being monitored at a “separate location” out of “an abundance of caution”, adding: “None of these individuals have shown any symptoms of exposure.” The official confirmed that the troops are not allowed to leave the location. | A US defense official told the Guardian the soldiers were being monitored at a “separate location” out of “an abundance of caution”, adding: “None of these individuals have shown any symptoms of exposure.” The official confirmed that the troops are not allowed to leave the location. |
| The official said that among those being monitored is Major General Darryl Williams, the US army’s commander in Africa, who has been leading the US effort against the virus. Williams visited Ebola treatment centres, said the official, who could not confirm whether other troops had come into contact with infected people. “None them were treating people. None of them are healthcare workers,” the official said. | The official said that among those being monitored is Major General Darryl Williams, the US army’s commander in Africa, who has been leading the US effort against the virus. Williams visited Ebola treatment centres, said the official, who could not confirm whether other troops had come into contact with infected people. “None them were treating people. None of them are healthcare workers,” the official said. |
| “We are billeted in a separate area (on the base). There’s no contact with the general population or with family. No one will be walking around Vicenza,” Williams told Reuters in a phone interview. | “We are billeted in a separate area (on the base). There’s no contact with the general population or with family. No one will be walking around Vicenza,” Williams told Reuters in a phone interview. |
| “Our food is dropped off and then we eat and throw it away. Nobody else touches it,” he said. | “Our food is dropped off and then we eat and throw it away. Nobody else touches it,” he said. |
| After initially saying that some US troops would come into contact with patients, the Pentagon retracted this earlier this month and said that some soldiers would be involved with the testing of blood from people who displayed symptoms associated with Ebola. | After initially saying that some US troops would come into contact with patients, the Pentagon retracted this earlier this month and said that some soldiers would be involved with the testing of blood from people who displayed symptoms associated with Ebola. |
| Dozens more troops are due to return to base from Liberia later on Monday and in the coming days. “There has been no decision to implement this force wide and any such decision would be made by the secretary of defense,” the official said. | Dozens more troops are due to return to base from Liberia later on Monday and in the coming days. “There has been no decision to implement this force wide and any such decision would be made by the secretary of defense,” the official said. |