The governors of New Jersey and New York say they're issuing a mandatory quarantine for travelers who have had contact with Ebola-infected patients in West Africa.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said a health care worker who had contact with Ebola patients in Africa already has been quarantined even though she has no symptoms. They say the woman landed at Newark Liberty Airport in New Jersey on Friday.

Any person traveling from the three West African nations who had contact with infected, or possibly infected, people will be automatically quarantined for 21 days. This includes doctors. All passengers with a travel history in West Africa will be monitored by public health officials, a statement said.

The monitoring and quarantine will be coordinated with local health departments.

Cuomo said the two governors put the plan in place after Dr. Craig Spencer, the first person in New York diagnosed with Ebola, rode the subway the night before he became ill.

"Quarantine means go home, stay home for 21 days.... that's quarantine. But I want to go out for pizza. Really, you can't. Well, I wanna go on one date. Well, really, you can't. That's why they call it quarantine," he said.

The governors said they are still working out the logistics of where quarantined passengers will be held. The policy goes further than current Centers for Disease Control guidelines.

Cuomo also announced the launch of a new, 24 hour, State information line to answer public health questions from New Yorkers about Ebola: 1-800-861-2280. The number is for public health information purposes only; those needing medical assistance should call 911.

A spokeswoman for the CDC said in a statement the organization sets the baseline recommended standards, but state and local officials have the prerogative to tighten the regimen as they see fit. 

With reports from the WNYC newsroom and the Associated Press.