(CNN) – A nurse who was quarantined against her will in New Jersey after treating Ebola patients in West Africa will not obey officials’ instructions to seclude herself at home in Maine, she and her lawyers said on the “Today” show and in the Bangor Daily News.
One of the nurse’s lawyers told CNN Wednesday that they are trying to work with Maine officials to avoid escalating the situation.
The nurse, Kaci Hickox, returned to Maine on Monday after New Jersey authorities released her from a hospital tent where state officials kept her over the weekend as part of a new quarantine policy. She hired a lawyer and spoke out about her isolation and was then transported to Maine.
She has twice tested negative for the virus.
Maine officials have said that they would ask Hickox to quarantine herself at home until the passage of 21 days from her last possible contact with an Ebola patient, adding that they would make it involuntary if she resisted.
“Today” show host Matt Lauer on Wednesday asked her if she planned to follow guidelines and finish that quarantine on November 10.
“I don’t plan on sticking to the guidelines,” she said. “I remain appalled by these home quarantine policies that have been forced upon me.”
That could set up a confrontation with Maine officials.
A fight ahead?
Maine officials are “exploring all of our options” to protect residents’ health, Gov. Paul LePage said Wednesday after Hickox declared she would resist a home quarantine. He did not name the nurse.