A US judge has ruled a nurse quarantined by her home state after treating Ebola patients could leave home and frequent public places, saying she was not infectious.
The decision from a district judge in the north eastern state of Maine is the latest twist in a bitter row over enforced quarantine of American medics returning from relief work in west Africa.
It reversed a temporary order that prevented her from visiting cinemas and shopping centres, and demanded she keep three feet away from others while Judge Charles LaVadiere examined the case.
Kaci Hickox insists that she is perfectly healthy and has fought efforts of US authorities to keep her in quarantine for 21 days, the incubation period for the virus, since returning home.
Maine went to court to force her to stay at home in the town of Fort Kent.
Yesterday she went out for a bike ride with her boyfriend, followed by TV cameras and the police.
"The state has not met its burden at this time to prove by clear and convincing evidence that limiting respondents’ movements to the degree requested is 'necessary to protect other individuals," wrote LaVerdiere in the ruling.
He said that Hickox must continue with direct active monitoring, coordinate her travel with public health authorities and notify them immediately if any symptom for the killer virus appears.
But the judge also told Ms Hickox to "demonstrate her full understanding of human nature and the real fear" that exists over the deadly virus, which has so far infected nine Americans. "She should guide herself accordingly," he wrote.
The White House and public health officials have criticised measures taken by some US states that quarantine medics returning from treating Ebola-infected patients in west Africa.
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie kept Ms Hickox in an isolation tent for three days after she flew back from Sierra Leone, before letting her go on after she tested negative for Ebola.
She was then driven to Maine, which imposed its own quarantine.
Canada suspends visa applications from Ebola-hit nations
Elsewhere, Canada has announced it has suspended visa applications for residents of Ebola-hit nations in a bid to prevent the deadly virus from crossing its borders.
Immigration Canada said authorities would not process any visa applications from individuals who had been in an Ebola-affected nation "within three months prior to the date of the application."
A statement said immigration authorities would also not issue new visa applications or process existing applications from foreign nationals intending to travel to an Ebola-affected nation.
The rule does not affect applications for visa renewals of foreign nationals who are already in Canada, the statement said.
Although Canada has had several alerts for possible Ebola cases, the country has yet to record its first confirmed incidence of the disease.
The World Health Organization said that Ebola had infected a total of 13,567 people so far, claiming 4,951 lives, mostly in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone.
