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Hospital Workers Who Treated Ebola Patient Told To Avoid Public Places

Cooper Neill/Texas Tribune
Dozens of Texas Health Presbyterian workers who entered Thomas Eric Duncan’s hospital room have been told not to enter public places.";

Dozens of Texas Health Presbyterian workers who entered Thomas Eric Duncan’s hospital room have been told not to enter public places.

Dallas County officials have said they’re monitoring 75 Presbyterian workers who cared for Duncan, the first Ebola patient treated at Presbyterian. He died last week.

The Texas Department of State Health Services issued a document that tells the Presbyterian workers to take the following measures:

  • Workers can’t go to “any location where members of the public congregate.” That includes restaurants, grocery stores, theaters or other public places for 21 days after the last time a worker was in contact with Duncan.

  • Don’t travel for 21 days after the last time a worker was in contact with Duncan. Don’t travel on commercial airplanes or via ship, long-distance bus or train.

  • Using public transportation, such as taxi or bus, should be discussed with public health officials.

  • Workers must be monitored twice each day, of which one must be face-to-face. Temperatures are to be taken twice a day.

Workers who don't follow the guidelines may be subject to a so-called communicable disease control order, officials say.
The order was signed by Dr. David Lakey, the state health commissioner.

Workers may choose to stay at Presbyterian during the monitoring period.

Read the state document

Texas Orders Presbyterian Health Care Workers Who Treated Ebola Patient To Avoid Public Places

Eric Aasen is KERA’s managing editor. He helps lead the station's news department, including radio and digital reporters, producers and newscasters. He also oversees keranews.org, the station’s news website, and manages the station's digital news projects. He reports and writes stories for the website and contributes pieces to KERA radio. He's discussed breaking news live on various public radio programs, including The Takeaway, Here & Now and Texas Standard, as well as radio and TV programs in New Zealand and the United Kingdom.