New York state backtracks on Ebola isolation policy
Governor eases rules on health workers back from West Africa after White House weighs in
New York state has eased its rules for how those arriving from Ebola-stricken West Africa must be treated, ending a mandatory isolation period for people who had no contact with an infected patient.
New York, New Jersey and Illinois have drafted in measures that see health care workers returning from West Africa - epicentre of the most deadly Ebola outbreak on record - quarantined for three weeks, while a fourth US state, Florida, has ordered twice-daily monitoring during that period.
But under pressure from the White House, where officials believe these rules could deter health workers from helping fight the epidemic in West Africa, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo rushed to ease his state's rules.
It came as US nurse Kaci Hickox, whose enforced quarantine in New Jersey sparked a furious backlash after she returned from treating Ebola patients in West Africa, was to be discharged last night after testing negative.
She became the first American health worker isolated under the new quarantine orders on Friday.
She had complained saying her "basic human rights had been violated" when she was placed under mandatory quarantine claiming she was made to feel like a criminal after being isolated in a tent without a shower or flush toilet.