Soldiers returning from Ebola-infected areas will face a 21-day quarantine upon their return to America. (Hiro Chang, Presidio of Monterey Public Affairs/Creative Commons)

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel approved the order today, with a more detailed course of policy to be drawn up in the next few days. The quarantine only applies to personnel who have had contact with Ebola patients. 

The government is being questioned on disparate rules for military staff versus healthcare workers, for whom official protocol continues to be contested. CNN reported President Obama’s defense: that military personnel did not elect to go to the infected regions, in comparison to the personal choice made by volunteer workers. The administration also expressed a desire to refrain from discouraging medical volunteers from carrying out their work.

Surrounding discourse on this policy has largely framed the quarantine as punishment, with President Obama even using the terms "dignity and respect" in his discussion of returning medical workers. 

SEE ALSO: Second Nurse Cured Of Ebola, Released From Hospital

Dr. Emmanuel d’Harcourt from the International Rescue Committee argued in an interview with CNN that mandatory quarantines do not work - at least, not for healthcare workers. Besides discouraging volunteers from their outreach work, it would also lead to people hiding when they do show symptoms of the virus, he said.

READ MORE: How Ebola Is Spreading Racism

Another defense of the military's mandatory quarantine is the concern that returning soldiers wouldn't monitor themselves effectively, while doctors or nurses are believed to be more likely to. “State and local public health authorities are advised to use active monitoring or direct active monitoring rather than having people monitor themselves," according to the latest guidelines from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

The quarantine policy will be reviewed in 45 days and there is a possibility that it could be repealed.

Reach Contributor Raakhee Natha here.