Kaci Hickox is free to roam again.
A Maine judge has rejected an attempt by state health officials to restrict the movement of the nurse, who has defied a quarantine for medical workers who’ve treated Ebola patients.
Judge Charles C. LaVerdiere ruled Friday that Hickox should continue daily active monitoring and coordinate any travel with state officials. He noted that she is not showing symptoms and is therefore not infectious.
Under the new order, she must agree to “direct active monitoring,” report any symptoms and coordinate her travel with health officials until a hearing takes place.
LaVerdiere thanked Hickox, 33, for her service in Sierra Leone.
“The court is fully aware of the misconceptions, misinformation, bad science and bad information being spread from shore to shore in our country with respect to Ebola,” he wrote. “The court is fully aware that people are acting out of fear and that this fear is not entirely rational.”
Maine Gov. Paul LePage disagreed with the judge’s ruling, but said the “state will abide by the law.”
“As governor, I have done everything I can to protect the health and safety of Mainers,” he said. “The judge has eased restrictions with this ruling and I believe it is unfortunate.”
The latest legal salvo overrode a temporary order filed Thursday night that required Hickox to stay at least three feet away from others, avoid public places, not leave Fort Kent, agree to active monitoring and coordinate travels with health officials.
Norman Siegel, Hickox’s civil-rights attorney hailed the judge’s ruling.
“This sets a precedent that in America we won’t quarantine people unless they have symptoms,” he said Friday afternoon.
He said that her monitoring calls for a state health worker to visit her daily.
The state sought restrictions until Hickox’s 21-day incubation period ends on Nov. 10.
Hickox, who treated Ebola patients in Sierra Leone, has contended confinement at her home in northern Maine violated her rights.
She returned to Maine after being held under quarantine in a Newark, N.J., tent until Gov. Chris Christie released her.
She took a defiant bike ride with her boyfriend on Thursday — while being followed by state troopers who had been stationed outside her house. Shortly after Friday’s ruling, the troopers left their post.
Rebecca Rosenberg and Post Wire Services contributed reporting