California orders risk-based Ebola quarantine

California is requiring a 21-day quarantine for people traveling from Ebola-stricken areas who have had contact with infected patients.

Dr. Ron Chapman, the state’s health officer, announced Wednesday that California is establishing a statewide standard to protect the public. Chapman says the extent of quarantines will be determined by county health officials on a case-by-case basis.

Chapman says a number of California health care workers have volunteered to help combat the epidemic in West Africa. Officials have not said how many people, if any, have been quarantined.

There are no reported or confirmed cases of Ebola in California.

California is imposing the risked-based quarantines after the governors of New Jersey and New York were criticized for ordering mandatory quarantines. The Pentagon says troops returning from Ebola missions will be isolated.