The ACLU fought a nurse’s quarantine, because she was only exposed to ebola. They said it was a violation of her rights to force her to spend weeks at home. The settlement was that she’d self-monitor and withdraw if symptomatic.
If it was unfair to limit ONE person who was not outwardly ill, it is unfair to quarantine MILLIONS who are not ill and unlikely to become so.
no emergency was declared. Once they declare an emergency, it changes everything.
Ebola is a fast-developing disease, pretty much requiring physical contact with the seriously ill to contract. IIRC you go from infected to dead in a very few days.
Covid19 has a _long_ incubation/contagious period before symptoms arise. It’s likely to spread thru a population fast well before anyone shows symptoms.