Kaci Hickox to be Released from Detention but Serious Constitutional Concerns Remain with Mandatory Quarantine Policy

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: 212-549-2666, media@aclu.org

Upon news of the impending release of health care worker Kaci Hickox from mandatory quarantine in New Jersey, ACLU of New Jersey Executive Director Udi Ofer issues the following statement.

“Kaci Hickox will see freedom after being coercively detained for three days, but New Jersey’s overbroad policy of automatically detaining all healthcare workers returning from West Africa after helping Ebola patients continues. Ebola is a serious matter and the government’s response should be driven by science and facts, not by fear and politics.

‘Medical workers have put their lives at risk treating Ebola patients. They should be rewarded with compassion and not treated like criminals. Mandatory quarantine of people exhibiting no Ebola symptoms and when not medically necessary is overbroad and raises serious constitutional concerns. Governor Christie should rescind the mandatory quarantine policy, which could affect potentially hundreds of returning healthcare workers.

‘New Jersey’s policy not only raises constitutional problems, but also discourages first responders from helping sick patients who need their assistance.”