Police say a couple in Hawaii is now facing reckless endangerment charges after they boarded a flight with their 4-year-old son even though they had tested positive for Covid-19.
Coco Zickos, a spokeswoman for Kauai police, said Wednesday that the couple, Wesley Moribe and Courtney Peterson, knew they had tested positive when they boarded a United Airlines flight from San Franciso to Lihue. She said that San Fransico International Airport officials instructed the couple to isolate and not to travel.
When the couple arrived at Lihue Airport, police escorted them to an isolation room for further processing and investigation.
Moribe, 41, and Peterson, 46, Wailua residents, were arrested on second-degree reckless endangerment charges. A family member took their son home, and Child Protective Services was notified.
Zickos said in a statement, “They knowingly boarded a flight aware of their positive COVID-19 test results, placing the passengers of the flight in danger of death.”
A spokesman for the Hawaii Covid-19 Joint Information Center said that the state Health Department is alerted when someone tests positive and that the couple was aware of their diagnosis before they boarded the San Francisco-bound flight.
“Rather than quarantining and contacting their health provider, they went on the plane,” the spokesman said.
According to state health data, 17,968 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Hawaii as of Sunday, with 244 deaths.
The couple posted bail, which was set at $1,000. They could face up to a year in jail and a $2,000 fine if convicted.
Passengers who test positive for coronavirus are not permitted to fly.
The airline’s website says, “Following CDC guidelines, you will not be able to travel on United for at least 10 days after the date you tested positive and only after you have two successive negative COVID-19 results that were administered at least 24 hours apart.”
Wednesday, a spokesperson for United said the health and safety of its employees and customers are the airline’s “highest priority, which is why we have various policies and procedures in place as part of a multi-layered approach to create a safer travel environment.”
“Prior to traveling, all United customers are required to complete a ‘Ready to Fly’ checklist acknowledging they have not been diagnosed with COVID-19 in the last 14 days,” the spokesperson said.
Moribe and Peterson are banned from any United flights, and an investigation is underway.
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