A Utah couple was charged by police on Thursday in Hilo for violating the state’s 14-day quarantine order.
The order, which has been standing since the inception of the COVID-19 epidemic, prohibits mainland visitors from daily activities outside of their place of occupancy during their stay, until they self-quarantine in place for 14 days, according to the Hawaii Police Department.
Police received information from Hawaii County Civil Defense, which is part of the state assigned task force designated with the responsibility of following up on Big Island visitors and ensuring they are abiding by the quarantine procedures in place.
The Utah couple arrived in Honolulu on July 24, and came to the Big Island on Tuesday, according to police. The couple believed that they were exempt from the quarantine proclamation. Police investigating the report determined that the couple were not exempt and violated the quarantine order resulting in their arrest.
The couple, Jessica Tripp, a 30-year-old woman, and Joseph Tripp, a 31-year-old man, were charged and bailed out on a $1,000 bond pending their court appearance Sept. 15 in the Hilo District Court.
The couple still has to complete the quarantine before assuming their activities or face another arrest, police noted.
The County of Hawaii is ramping up efforts in performing enforcement action where needed for visitors that fail to abide by Gov. David Ige’s order that’s been in effect since the end of March. The only exception is for first responders and critical infrastructure personnel with an exemption.
Those that think they qualify for the exemption can do so through the state Attorney General’s Office by contacting them at covidexemption@hawaii.gov.
Police on Friday also reminded the public that there is a mandatory face-covering order in Hawaii County for those over the age of 5 years old.