American evacuees from the growing coronavirus outbreak in China flew into Omaha today and are being quarantined at a nearby Nebraska National Guard training base. The Nebraska National Guard said people going to Camp Ashland are not diagnosed with coronavirus. According to the CDC, these people were chosen because they’re coming from a high-risk area in China (1011Now).
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said that planes also will arrive at military bases in California and Texas, and all the passengers will be screened by federal personnel for symptoms. Americans returning from China’s Hubei province, the center of the outbreak, are subject to 14 days of mandatory quarantine according to 1011 Now News.
The CDC and Nebraska National Guard said Nebraskans should not worry about getting coronavirus. They say finding it early and taking these precautions will allow them to avoid an epidemic (1011Now).
Yes, others are being transported to California and Texas. Yes, we are rescuing American’s from his deadly virus. Yes, I would want the US to do the same for me. But unfortunately, it seems as though Nebraska was picked for its low population and overall lack of knowledge of what Nebraska is to the US.
Although the CDC stated we should not worry about this quarantine, has the nation forgot what Nebraska is? It is the heart of the agricultural business in the United States. With our surplus of cattle, farm land and creation of ethanol, I can’t but wonder why they would bring this virus here.
Since people on the east and west coast tend to forget there are actual people in Nebraska, who drive cars, have paved roads and live their lives. I understand the choice of Nebraska for the quarantine with our low population, and if the virus spreads it would have a smaller impact rather than in a larger city.
Still, there were other locations… and Camp Ashland is uncomfortably close to Lincoln and Omaha. Our largest cities. So if population was the reason for bringing the virus here.. Camp Ashland wasn’t the right spot for it.
Jasmine's Blog 
It was interesting to see this story unfold. Out of all the places, it is interesting that Nebraska, especially Camp Ashland was chosen as a place for this quarantine. Hopefully the authorities can keep it contained, if anyone has it, and take good care of them. You had great use of causal claims in your post as well as factual ones. Although, I think you could make an even stronger policy claims what discussing what else could’ve been done before choosing Camp Ashland as the quarantine location. If you have time, I’d say take a more in depth look at the policy claim.
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So, this is basically a “Not In My Backyard” argument. Is using a military base in Nebraska any different than military bases anywhere else? Is there any sign that running a quarantine here particularly dangerous? I see a lot of good information here about the virus and the government efforts to control it. I don’t see a compelling cased that having a quarentine site here is dangerous.
You could make an argument that it speaks well of our capabilities in Nebraska to have site here. After all, we treated victims of ebola at UNMC during a recent outbreak.
I just think you need to think about what you are arguing here.
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I agree with the points made above. I was trying to explain that there is more to Nebraska than what those on the coast believe. It doesn’t matter that these individuals are here in Nebraska vs another military base. My argument is for the nation to understand that Nebraska isn’t some dust bowl, we actually provide so much for the US. I think others who aren’t from around here don’t understand that. Should I establish a new claim?
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I’m not sure I see that as an argument being made here for why we should take the quarantine here. I think it’s more that we have an airport and a big military base here.
I think the respect for Nebraska would be a better column topic than an editorial topic. You might want to take another swing at this. I’ll be back on later tonight if you want me to look.
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