JFK and Newark FAQ for Flying in from the Ebola Zone

For about a week now, New York and New Jersey have been facing a barrage of criticism over the quarantine policies they announced for travelers returning from Ebola-stricken nations. Critics, including relief groups, warned that imposing mandatory, 21-day quarantines for anyone who may have been exposed to the virus would discourage desperately needed healthcare and aid workers from going to West Africa. The case of nurse Kaci Hickox, the first to be quarantined in New Jersey, has only fueled the concerns. If you or someone you know hopes to fly into the New York City or New Jersey area from Liberia, Guinea or Sierra Leone, here's some guidance on what to expect when arriving at JFK and Newark Liberty:

What kind of screening will I be subjected to at each airport?

At both JFK and Newark, you'll first be screened by U.S. Customs and Border Protection staff, who will inquire about whether you've visited countries affected by Ebola. They will also request that you complete a questionnaire and your temperature will be taken.

What will happen next? If I have a case of the sniffles, am I going to be quarantined immediately?

At both JFK and Newark airports, that depends on which category you're placed in during your screening:

High Risk — Both airports have the same criteria and response for "high risk" passengers. If you have Ebola-like symptoms or don't feel well, in general, and you've been been in direct contact with an Ebola carrier, you'll be transported to one of the Ebola-designated hospitals in the respective states.

Moderate Risk — New York and New Jersey officials are clear that if you're in good health but have been in direct contact with someone infected with Ebola, authorities will arrange to transport you from JFK or Newark to your home or hotel, or elsewhere once they've contacted your local authorities, and you'll be quarantined for 21 days.

Low Risk — If you don't exhibit any Ebola symptoms and you haven't been in direct contact with the virus, at the very least, you'll likely be monitored by your local health officials twice a day for 21 days, but you won't be subject to a mandatory quarantine in New York or New Jersey. Although, low-risk scenarios will be handled on a case-by-case basis at both Newark and JFK. 

What exactly constitutes "direct contact" with Ebola?

If you've touched the body fluids of someone with with the virus or who is showing symptoms, even if you were wearing protective gear, you're considered to have been in "direct contact." Being within three feet of an Ebola carrier without protective gear; living in the same home with a patient; and sharing the same enclosed space, while not wearing protective gear for a prolonged period of time, all establish "direct contact."

When does the 21-day quarantine period kick in? The day I get to the airport? What if I haven’t been in West Africa for three days?

The quarantine starts from the date of your last possible exposure to Ebola, essentially the last day you were in a nation affected by Ebola.

What if I choose to fly into Washington Dulles and take Amtrak or a bus home to New York or New Jersey?

As of now, Dulles is the only airport you can fly into from the Ebola zone that does not have mandatory quarantines for asymptomatic travelers. You’ll still have to undergo screening. And as of Monday, all five airports in the U.S. that receive travelers from West Africa are monitoring for Ebola symptoms. New York officials have only said that they're looking into what to do about the Dulles scenario.

What If I'm just catching a connecting flight to another part of the country? Who decides whether I'm allowed to get on my next flight?

New York and New Jersey health officials said that also depends on whether you're considered high, moderate or low risk during your screening.

Are the quarantines legal?

If you ask the governors of New York, New Jersey and other states that have adopted quarantine protocols for Ebola, the answer is yes. But Kaci Hickox doesn't think so. She's enlisted civil rights attorneys to look into her case. Legal experts are also chiming in on the quarantines.