A California couple honeymooning in Hawaii was arrested by local authorities for allegedly violating mandatory 14-day quarantine rules for...
A California couple honeymooning in Hawaii was arrested by local authorities for allegedly violating mandatory 14-day quarantine rules for out-of-state visitors.
Borice Leouskiy, 20, and his new wife, Yuliia Andreichenko, 26, of Citrus Heights, California, were arrested for allegedly flouting quarantine rules ‘repeatedly’ while staying at a hotel in Waikiki.
The couple’s arrest was announced in a statement released by the Hawaii attorney general’s office titled ‘From the honeymoon suite to cell block.’
Yuliaa Andreichenko, 26, of Citrus Heights, California, was arrested in Hawaii along with her newlywed husband after allegedly flouting state's mandatory quarantine rules
Hawaii authorities said the couple ‘scoffed’ at the hotel manager who warned them of the state’s mandatory quarantine rules for visitors.
Leouskiy, a Ukrainian national, and his wife, a naturalized American citizen who grew up in Ukraine, were first informed of the quarantine requirements by the hotel manager when they checked in just after 10pm on Wednesday, authorities said.
They reportedly disputed the manager, saying they were told by airport screeners that they were under no such obligations to shelter in place.
The couple said they planned to ‘visit friends and go to parks and beaches’ and that the airport screeners told them this was acceptable, investigators said.
But when the hotel manager informed them of the quarantine rules, they allegedly left the hotel.
After midnight, they returned to the hotel with pizza. They then told the manager they were allowed to wander outside to buy food.
The hotel then asked the couple to sign a statement acknowledging they understood the quarantine regulations, but they refused, according to the statement.
Newlyweds from California were arrested in Hawaii for allegedly violating the state's mandatory 14-day quarantine for visitors. The above image is a stock photo of Waikiki
State authorities identified the couple as Borice Leouskiy, 20, and his new wife, Yuliia Andreichenko, 26, of Citrus Heights, California
‘With the majority of Hawaii’s COVID-19 cases linked to travel, it is critical that we further mitigate the spread of the virus by both residents and visitors who are coming from out-of-state,’ state officials said in their statement.
‘This plan was developed in collaboration with our county mayors and Hawaii’s business, community and visitor industry leaders.’
The next morning, the hotel managers learned the couple had once again left their rooms.
Upon returning to the hotel, they were once again told about the rules.
After allegedly protesting, the hotel notified investigators, who arrived at the hotel and placed the couple under arrest.
Leouskiy and Andreichenko have been charged with unsworn falsification to authority and violation of the 14-day quarantine.
They face maximum penalties of a $5,000 fine and up to a year in jail.
On Friday, Hawaii reported one new case of COVID-19 for a cumulative total of 619.
Sixteen people have died.
Governor David Ige has extended the state’s stay-at-home order through May 31. A 14-day quarantine for travelers arriving in the state also remains in effect.
Hawaii Lieutenant Governor Josh Green said Friday the state is moving into 'Phase 2' of its effort against the coronavirus now that it has successfully reduced the rate of new infections and 'flattened the curve.'
Green said in a video posted on social media that low-risk activities like elective medical procedures are resuming and officials in the next few weeks will consider authorizing medium-risk activities.
'Can our gyms open? Can restaurants that do social distancing open? That’s what we’re working on,' Green said.
The next step after these activities would be 'higher risk stuff' like large gatherings of people and bars, he said.
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