New York governor announces relaxed Ebola quarantine rules

On Sunday night, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) announced that he has eased the state's policy for Ebola quarantines. Medical workers who return to New York from working in countries with Ebola outbreaks and do not show any symptoms will be able to stay at home, he said.

In addition to remaining inside their homes for 21 days, they will be visited by local authorities twice a day, and their families will be able to stay with them, The New York Times reports. Friends may also come over, as long as health officials approve. "My No. 1 job is to protect the people of New York, and this does that," Cuomo said.

If the quarantined individual needs food and medicine, the state will provide it. "If their organization does not pay for the three weeks, we will," Cuomo said.

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The changes came after the White House asked Cuomo and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) to reconsider the mandatory quarantine rules they announced Friday. During the press conference, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said he agreed with the governor's new, flexible guidelines.