90-Second Read: Kennedy orders woman to stay in Hantavirus quarantine, despite CDC recommendation

A cruise ship passenger is still being held at a quarantine facility in Nebraska, against her wishes and against the recommendation of a medical review. Perryman is one of 18 passengers who were on a cruise ship that became the center of a Hantavirus outbreak that killed three people, sickened several others, and unnerved people around the world. Some passengers were allowed to quarantine at home until June 22, or 42 days, provided local health officials committed to having a law enforcement or community health worker monitor them.

Kennedy Jr., a staunch proponent of medical freedom, signed an order to continue quarantining Angela Perryman, 47, even though others who had been held at the facility have, since May 31, been allowed to return to their homes if they wished to do so. This is the final proof that there is no check and balance on a basically indefinite detention under the public health law. The passengers were initially set to return to their own states, but were then ordered to remain in Omaha at least until May 31.

Perryman is one of 10 passengers still in Omaha, she said, but the only one being held against her will. Perryman lives in Florida part of the time and wished to quarantine there. In a telephone interview with the New York Times, Perryman, who has tested negative for the virus and says she has not had any symptoms, expressed anger and frustration.