OMAHA — The Trump administration imposed mandatory federal quarantine orders on two American passengers who were on a Dutch cruise ship affected by hantavirus. This federal action followed a decision by the administration to prevent American citizens diagnosed with Ebola abroad from returning to the United States for medical treatment.
Hantavirus infections aboard the cruise ship resulted in three fatalities. Federal officials initially stated the passengers transported to an Omaha quarantine facility were staying voluntarily. The federal government requires passengers leaving the Nebraska facility to complete isolation at home under continuous monitoring by local health departments.
The U.S. government arranged for infected Americans to receive treatment at medical facilities in Europe after preventing their return. Department of Health and Human Services officials stated the restrictions were targeted to protect public health.
Ashish Jha, a Harvard University senior fellow and former White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator, said, "They have spent so much time talking about not having the government impose on peoples individual decisions and individual movement, touted individual choice over public health, and argued that individual freedom trumps public health guidance." He added, "And yet, in response to the hantavirus and Ebola, this administration has chosen to impose very draconian and extreme public health measures."
Arizona State University public health law professor James Hodge said, "That's heavy-handed. And really quite unnecessary." He also stated, "It's very concerning about what overreaction we may see." Hodge added, "They're taking a lot of steps that many would view as very authoritarian, very over-the-top."
Jennifer Nuzzo, Director of the Brown University Pandemic Center, criticized the decision to prevent Americans from returning to the United States. Nuzzo stated, "We have specialized, taxpayer-built units that exist solely for this purpose: to provide life-saving care to people who may be exposed to deadly diseases while they are doing important public health work."