White House hantavirus and Ebola response draws criticism over COVID-era contrasts
7 reported
The Trump administration has imposed mandatory federal quarantine orders on two American passengers from a cruise ship hit by hantavirus, required round-the-clock monitoring for some passengers quarantining at home, banned people from countries with Ebola outbreaks from entering the U.S., and blocked Americans who catch Ebola from returning for treatment. These actions have drawn criticism from public health experts who note the administration previously criticized COVID-19 restrictions such as lockdowns, mask mandates, and vaccine requirements. Critics argue the measures are heavy-handed and counterproductive, while the administration and some outside experts defend them as necessary to protect the American public. The Department of Health and Human Services described the response as "aggressive" but "targeted" and aimed at protecting health and safety. Some experts worry the tactics could backfire by discouraging outbreak reporting and driving infected people into hiding. Others, including former CDC Director Robert Redfield, defended the hantavirus response given the virus's person-to-person spread potential, though Redfield disagreed with barring Americans with Ebola from returning for treatment.
What’s reported
The administration imposed mandatory federal quarantine orders on two American passengers from a cruise ship hit by hantavirus.
Federal officials required round-the-clock monitoring by local health departments for some passengers finishing quarantine at home.
The administration banned people from countries with Ebola outbreaks from entering the U.S.
The administration barred U.S. citizens helping fight Ebola from returning to the U.S. for treatment, instead sending them to Europe or planning a facility in Kenya.
Critics include Dr. Ashish Jha, James Hodge, Jennifer Nuzzo, Lawrence Gostin, and Wendy Parmet.
Dr. Robert Redfield defended the hantavirus response and the Ebola travel ban but disagreed with blocking Americans from returning for treatment.
HHS spokesman Andrew Nixon said the response was "aggressive" and "targeted" to protect the American people.
Key figures
Dr. Ashish Jha, senior fellow at Harvard University and former Biden COVID-19 Response Coordinator
James Hodge, public health law professor at Arizona State University
Jennifer Nuzzo, director of Brown University's Pandemic Center
Lawrence Gostin, public health law professor at Georgetown University
Dr. Martin Cetron, former director of the division of global migration and quarantine at the CDC
Wendy Parmet, public health law professor at Northeastern University
Dr. Robert Redfield, visiting fellow at the Heritage Foundation and former CDC director
Andrew Nixon, Department of Health and Human Services spokesman
Sources: NPR
