Couple Boards SF Flight After Positive Coronavirus Test Results

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — A couple boarded a flight from San Fransico to Hawaii over the weekend despite receiving positive coronavirus test results. The Hawaii residents were later arrested on suspicion of endangering passengers, according to mulitple reports.

The pair both tested positive for COVID-19 at San Francisco International Airport and were told not to board their flight and staff at the Quarantine Station instructed the couple to isolate. But they decided to board their United Airlines flight bound for Kaua'i anyway, officials said.

The Wailua residents, Wesley Moribe, 41 and Courtney Peterson, 46, also had a four-year-old with them for the flight which was more than five hours long.

Hawaii's department of health was alerted that the couple had tested positive before boarding their flight, NBC News reported.

After the plane landed at the Lihue Airport, officers from the Kaua'i Police Department arrested the couple on suspicion of Second Degree Reckless Endangerment after putting other passengers at risk for contracting coronavirus, KITV4 Island News reported.

The pair posted bail, which was set at $1,000, according to NBC News.

The two positive cases brought Kaua'i's total number of positive cases to 17. On Wednesday there were 677,445 reported cases of coronavirus in the state of Hawaii.

On Friday, Hawaiian officials tightened restrictions on travelers to Kaua'i, requiring all nonessential travelers to quarantine for 14 days beginning Wednesday.

"The unprecedented surge of COVID-19 cases on the mainland and the rise in community spread on Kaua'i are of significant concern for the Garden Isle. We must protect Kaua'i residents and visitors and ensure that Kaua‘i’s hospitals do not become overwhelmed," Gov. David Ige said in a statement Friday. "Kaua'i county currently has the fewest number of ICU beds in the state, and private providers are seeking ways to increase capacity. This moratorium aims to stabilize the situation on Kaua‘i."

United Airlines passengers who test positive for COVID-19 are prohibited from boarding any flights.

"If you test positive for COVID-19, you won’t be able to fly at that time and should contact your local healthcare provider," according to the airline's website. 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. Once you’ve had two negative tests, we’ll re-book you with no change fees."