A HAWAII couple were arrested after they boarded a five-hour flight “knowing they tested positive for Covid-19.”
Wesley Moribe, 41, and Courtney Peterson, 46, traveled with a child on a United Airlines flight from San Francisco to Lihue, Hawaii on Nov. 29, knowing they were positive for coronavirus, police said Wednesday.
According to the Kauai police department, the couple were instructed by the Quarantine Station at the San Francisco International Airport not to fly and to isolate.
Nevertheless, the couple ignored health official’s instructions and boarded the flight endangering other passengers, according to the news release.
“Once the couple arrived at the Lihue Airport, they were identified and contacted by KPD personnel who escorted them to a designated isolation room for further processing and investigation,” Kauai police said in the statement.
“They knowingly boarded a flight aware of their positive COVID-19 test results, placing the passengers of the flight in danger of death.”
The child, 4, was released into the care of a family members and Child Protection Services was notified.
The child’s relationship with the couple was not disclosed by police.
The incident comes as Kauai staged a temporary opt-out of Hawaii’s pre-travel testing program.
Starting Wednesday, all incoming travelers to the island – including inter-island passengers – must quarantine for 14 days.
The decision has drawn criticism from businesses who rely on tourism dollars, but Kauai Mayor Derek Kawakami said the pause is needed to prevent further community spread of Covid-19.
Moribe and Peterson were arrested upon arriving to Lihue and charged with second-degree reckless endangering.
The couple were released on $1,000 bail each.
