Update at 6 p.m.: Dallas officials say the family living inside the Ivy Apartments unit shared with Ebola patient Thomas Eric Duncan has been moved to a house in Dallas County. According to officials, apartments and motels in the city weren't acceoting the foursome who were ordered to stay put by state health officials earlier this week while they’re being observed for any signs of symptoms.
Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins escorted the family from their apartment to an SUV without any protective clothing to show everyone that they are not contagious.
City, council and Dallas ISD officials will provide further details at a 7 p.m. press conference.
FROM STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS
Texas health officials said Friday they have narrowed the group from as many as 100 to about 50 people with some type of exposure to the Ebola patient in Dallas.
Texas Health Commissioner David Lakey said all 50 are meeting with health workers and having their temperatures taken daily. So far, none show symptoms of the virus. Ten are considered to be at higher risk and are being monitored more closely.
Meanwhile a hazardous materials cleaning crew removed everything from the Vickery Meadow apartment where the Liberian man who was stricken with Ebola had been living before he was hospitalized.
And there were hopes that the four people who were confined to the apartment where Thomas Eric Duncan was living when he became ill could be moved to a different location.
During a noon press conference, County Judge Clay Jenkins said he hoped to improve the family’s accommodations, not just by cleaning the home but by actually moving them elsewhere. It’s unclear where they would be moved, but the four people could be seen emerging from the home during the cleaning process.
Jenkins said he went to the apartment with two epidemiologists to apologize for the delay in removing soiled items from the home. He said officials are working to make sure that the family is comfortable and to improve their accommodations.
