The Pentagon isn’t calling it a quarantine, but military officials confirmed Army Maj. Gen. Darryl Williams, the head of U.S. Army Africa, has been placed under “controlled monitoring” following a trip to West Africa.
He’s been placed under watch in Italy, along with 10 others who traveled with him, CNN reported.
Gen. Williams’ plane was met at the airport by Italian authorities in “full CDC gear,” one Pentagon official told CNN, referring to the full-body protective uniform donned by U.S. health care workers.
Neither the general nor his travel companions have shown signs of Ebola, but will be monitored for 21 days at a “separate location” at the U.S. military base in Vicenza, Italy, CNN reported.
Senior Pentagon people said it’s not a quarantine, though all the troops are being placed in the so-called controlled setting on the base — and aren’t allowed to leave for 21 days. On top of that, they’re going to be subjected to twice-daily temperature checks, CNN reported.
Officials didn’t explain why the troops were being put in the “controlled setting,” even though it counters military policy. The Pentagon’s policy on monitoring troops who return from overseas sites where Ebola has been noted is to allow them to return to work.
“As long as individuals remain asymptomatic, they may return to work and routing daily activities with family members,” the Department of Defense’s policy reads, CNN reported.
Gen. Williams and his team were in West Africa for 30 days.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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