Eighty percent of U.S. residents support quarantining people who have traveled to the U.S. from West Africa, even if they do not show any signs of having Ebola, according to a poll released on Wednesday.
The poll, which was conducted by CBS News, found 80 percent of its respondents believed airline passengers who have recently visited African nations that are battling Ebola should be “quarantined upon arrival.”
By contrast, the poll found only 17 percent said passengers from West Africa should be “allowed to enter [the U.S.] if no symptoms” of Ebola are readily observed.
{mosads}The survey comes as New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) has come under fire for quarantining a nurse who had recently traveled to West Africa to treat Ebola patients for three days, despite the fact that she had not exhibited symptoms that are usually associated with the deadly disease.
President Obama on Tuesday criticized mandatory quarantines of returning Ebola nurses that have been implemented by states like New Jersey and New York.
“They are doing God’s work over there, and they are doing it to keep us safe,” the president said during brief statement on the South Lawn. “And I want to make sure every policy we put into place is supportive of their efforts.”
Republicans have cited polls like the CBS survey, as they have pressed the Obama administration to ban travel between the U.S. and West Africa altogether.
“This is common sense, and the members of the American public think it is common sense,” Christie said during an appearance on NBC’s “Today” show on Tuesday.
“We are not moving an inch,” he continued.