AP/Steven Senne
Chris Christie
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Christie had come under intense criticism after unveiling on Friday the quarantine protocol for anyone returning from West Africa who had contact with Ebola victims or patients. The Obama administration warned it could discourage health workers from traveling to combat the disease at its epicenter.
Cuomo's tone during a Sunday night press conference was perceived as a shift in policy, as he said healthcare workers returning to the US from Africa could spend those quarantines in their homes and have visitors. State and federal health officials will twice a day arrive at their homes to check that the quarantined are there and to see if they have any symptoms.
In a statement Sunday night after Cuomo's press conference with New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, Christie spokesman Kevin Roberts said New Jersey is "not changing its quarantine protocol." He also clarified that New Jersey residents may spend the 21-day period at their homes if they are New Jersey residents.
"New Jersey is not changing its quarantine protocol," Roberts said. "The protocol is clear that a New Jersey resident with no symptoms, but who has come into contact with someone with Ebola, such as a health care provider, would be subject to a mandatory quarantine order and quarantined at home. Non-residents would be transported to their homes if feasible and, if not, quarantined in New Jersey."
It is in New Jersey where the policy has come under the most intense criticism, as the first nurse who was quarantined under the protocol has slammed it as harsh and draconian. Kaci Hickox, the nurse, has publicly criticized Christie, along with top federal health officials.
AP
Christie defended the quarantine multiple times on Sunday amid the criticism, saying it was "government's job" to ensure public safety.
He pointed to experience with an NBC News crew that broke a voluntary self-quarantine after one of its cameramen came down with the virus.
"I have great respect for Dr. Fauci, but what he's counting on is a voluntary system with folks who may or may not comply. We had this situation in New Jersey, Chris, as you know with the NBC News crew that said they were going to self-quarantine and then two days later they were out picking up takeout food in Princeton and walking around the streets of Princeton," Christie said.
"I mean the fact of the matter is that I don't believe that when you're dealing with something as serious as this that we can count on a voluntary system. This is government's job. If anything else, the government's job is to protect the safety and health of our citizens. And so, we've taken this action and I absolutely have no second thoughts about it."