Nederland PD: Woman who tested positive for coronavirus could be charged for leaving home

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A woman who said she tested positive for COVID-19 could face charges after she left her home at a Nederland apartment complex.

Emergency personnel were called to the Carriage House Apartments in the 1800 block of Nederland Ave. just after 9 p.m. after a woman had fallen, Police Chief Gary Porter said.

He said the woman, who was on the sidewalk and not quarantined in her apartment, told EMS she had tested positive for the virus.

Porter said the dispatch center has a list of addresses for those who test positive, and they alert emergency personnel sent to that location. Nederland had four positive cases as of Friday afternoon.

The chief said his officers were not called to the scene, but the incident is under investigation. Police do not believe complications from the virus caused the woman to fall.

“If there is probable cause that this lady was violating a quarantine order, we will turn the case over to the district attorney's office,” Porter said. “It would be violation of an emergency order. It would be a week before we can file the case. We have to gather up paperwork from the health department to get a prosecutable case.”

The woman was told to go back into her home, but police do not have a way to ensure she doesn’t leave again, Porter said.

“She could face up to a $1,000 fine and up to 180 days in jail,” he said. “This is weird. It’s a Class B misdemeanor punishment range. This is all new to us. There ain’t no playbook on this stuff. Hopefully, if her neighbors see her out and about they will call us. I’m sure they have their eyes peeled.”

Kastle Multifamily is the parent company for the apartment complex. Marketing director Paul Smith said they were aware of the positive case and sent out notices to other tenants.

“We sent out text messages and closed the offices,” he said. “We’ve had to call the chief of police because kids are going out in the courtyard and playing. We’ve had to tell some residents’ parents and some residents to not mingle in the courtyard. Follow the guidelines.”

Smith said he also warns residents against retaliation toward anyone infected by the virus.

“What we don’t want is anyone taking harm to her or anyone around her,” he said. “It would make the problem 10 times worse... We’ve talked with (Center for Disease Control), the county health department, we’ve arranged someone to come in every day through the health department and check on her and take her temperature.”

CDC guidelines say someone infected with coronavirus should stay home, avoid public areas and only leave for essential medical care.

Those quarantined at home should separate themselves from others in the home using a “sick room,” and a separate bathroom if possible, the agency recommends.

Those who test positive for coronavirus are asked to stay home until they are no longer running fever (without the use of fever-reducing medications), have improved respiratory symptoms and produce two negative test results more than 24 hours apart.

chris.moore@beaumontenterprise.com

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