Branstad says Ebola quarantine not needed in Iowa

DES MOINES - Gov. Terry Branstad said Monday he does not believe Iowa needs to institute a mandatory quarantine related to the Ebola outbreak, like some states have, because there are no Iowa airports that have flights arriving directly from the affected West African nations.

'I don't see a need for us to do that here at this time,” Branstad told reporters during his weekly news conference.

Branstad said he understands why governors in other states, such as New York, New Jersey, Illinois and Maryland, have established 21-day quarantines for people returning from affected countries, but Iowa is protected in the sense that people who visited places battling Ebola would first come through a larger airport where they would be subject to quarantine.

'It's my understanding that we have not had any cases of Ebola here, although there's great concern and we want to do everything we can to make sure that it doesn't get here,” said Branstad, noting he has kept in close contact with state public health officials about precautions undertaken by hospitals, EMS providers and local health agencies in preparation for any possible Ebola case in Iowa.

'I understand the great fear that people have about people who have come back and then had Ebola,” he said. 'We don't want this epidemic to come to the United States, and governors are trying to do what they can to protect the safety of their citizens.”

Branstad said it's a different situation in states with direct flights arriving from Ebola-affected countries to deal with what he called 'a delicate balance” in dealing with a problem that he believes has been mishandled by the federal government.

On other topics Monday, Branstad said he is not in a position to commit to a third straight year of tuition freezes for instate residents attending regent universities in Iowa until he has a clearer picture of the state's revenue situation when new projections are released in December. The state Board of Regents is also slated that month to decide whether to approve a proposed 1.75 percent tuition or opt to freeze rates.

'I've very hopeful that we can do that,” the governor said.

'We have to wait until we hit the December revenue estimate to decide what we are going to recommend in the budget, but I am very optimistic at what the regents are looking at, and I think they are doing a good job,” he added.

Also Monday, the governor announced at three Iowa colleges - Upper Iowa University, Mount Mercy University and Des Moines Area Community College - are certified under the Home Base Iowa Certified Higher Academic Military Partner (CHAMP) program to educate and assist veterans on campus. The certification will help attract veterans leaving the service to Iowa and help academic institutions market their campus as veteran friendly, said Branstad, who expected that eventually all public and private colleges in Iowa will be certified.

'With 495 veterans hired through Home Base Iowa thus far, it's clear our veterans' jobs initiative is a growing success,” said Branstad. 'Today's announcement of the Home Base Iowa Certified Higher Academic Military Partner program is another step toward ensuring service members transitioning to civilian life have the educational resources they need here in Iowa.”