Dr. Craig Spencer, a New York doctor who was admitted to the city's Bellevue Hospital with Ebola on Oct. 23, was discharged on Tuesday after being declared free of the virus.
Spencer, 30, walked out of the hospital's emergency room on Tuesday morning to cheers from the health care workers who treated him. He was joined at a podium by Mayor Bill de Blasio, who called it "a very, very good day."
"Dr. Spencer is Ebola free, and New York City is Ebola free," de Blasio said, commending the doctor for helping people in need in West Africa, where he contracted the virus.
"It is a good feeling to hug a hero," the mayor said, giving Spencer the second of many embraces (de Blasio's wife, Chirlane McCray, nabbed the first). "Dr. Spencer has shown what it means to help your fellow human."
Mayor @BilldeBlasio hugs New York Ebola patient Dr. Craig Spencer -- "an inspiration." pic.twitter.com/3PW8yKWozg— MashableLIVE (@MashableLive) November 11, 2014
Spencer's first words, to laughter from the crowd: "Hello. My name is Craig Spencer."
Telling the press "today I am healthy and no longer infectious," the doctor thanked the Bellevue medical team for his treatment and said he was proud to work with Doctors Without Borders.
Dr Spencer: I am very proud to be among the ranks of more than 3,500 providers working with Doctors Without Borders pic.twitter.com/go9UDIH0c4— MashableLIVE (@MashableLive) November 11, 2014
Spencer asked the world now turn its attention back toward West Africa where the virus rages on. He said health care workers there -- "the true heroes that we are not talking about" -- should not face "stigma and threats upon their return home," alluding to the forced quarantines put in place shortly after his diagnosis. "Volunteers need to be supported to fight this outbreak at its source," he said.
Spencer now hugging NYC Health Commissioner Mary Bassett pic.twitter.com/u1cyNvqHJi— MashableLIVE (@MashableLive) November 11, 2014
New York city and state health officials, including Gov. Andrew Cuomo, praised the medical workers who cared for Spencer "with the highest level of excellence."
"Dr. Spencer's a very huggable guy," @BilldeBlasio says as the 33-year-old doctor gets another hug pic.twitter.com/zvYwrimTnU— Brian Ries (@moneyries) November 11, 2014
“Today is proof that proper preparedness and erring on the side of caution can save lives," Cuomo said in a statement. "On behalf of all New Yorkers, I am greatly relieved to hear of Dr. Spencer’s recovery and thank him for his important and heroic work on the front lines of this devastating epidemic in West Africa."
Today is proof that proper preparedness & erring on side of caution can save lives. Statement on Dr. Spencer release: http://t.co/JRUrk2ttxK— Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) November 11, 2014
"Dr. Spencer’s treatment and recovery serve as an example to the nation that New York State is committed to protecting the public health and will succeed at preventing the spread of this deadly disease," added the acting state health commissioner, Howard Zucker.