Coronavirus patient stopped from boarding plane in Lansing

Craig Lyons
Lansing State Journal

LANSING – A person who tested positive for COVID-19 attempted to board a plane in Lansing last week but was stopped in the airport after local health officials issued a cease-and-desist order.

The Ingham County Health Department notified the Capital Region International Airport on Friday afternoon that a person who tested positive for COVID-19 was possibly boarding a flight leaving from Lansing and should be prevented from doing so.

The cease-and-desist order became necessary when the patient did not heed directions to remain quarantined, Ingham County Health Officer Linda Vail said.

“We can’t have people hopping on planes that are known positive with COVID-19," Vail said. "We just can’t."

The individual, who resides in another state, was visiting family in Ingham County and tested positive for the virus. The person told health department staff they wanted to return home.

“It was like, 'No you can’t,'” Vail said.

The person was advised of the health risks and potential consequences of not following the order to stay at their temporary residence, she said.

Linda Vail, Ingham County health officer, demonstrates how people should cough into their elbow at a news conference concerning the COVID-19, or coronavirus, Friday, March 6, 2020.

It became clear to staff who stayed in contact with the person that the patient was not complying with the order and possibly planned to go to the airport, Vail said.

She contacted the airport. Airport staff called the airline and were able to locate the passenger before the security checkpoint, said Spencer Flynn, the airport’s marketing manager. Staff advised the passenger of the health department’s request.

“We let them know what the health department told us,” Flynn said. “The subject voluntarily left.”

Vail said she went to the airport herself, having issued the cease-and-desist order Thursday, and the individual then agreed to stay in Ingham County. If a person does not voluntarily comply with a cease-and-desist order, the health officer can petition the courts for a judicial order.

Health department staff remains in contact with patients who have tested positive for COVID-19 or those in quarantine because of suspected contact with the virus, Vail said. If staff thinks something is amiss with a person’s movements, she said, they look into it more.

“If it comes down to it, the law allows us to issue a cease-and-desist warning,” Vail said.

Health officers have broad authority during epidemics

To control epidemics, health officers can take a variety of actions if an imminent danger to public health exists, Vail said. Those options include cease-and-desist orders or even petitioning a court to order someone into quarantine or isolation.

“We can do all of those things,” Vail said. “We don’t generally.”

The airport does not have the authority or passenger testing procedure to say if a passenger is allowed to fly, Flynn said. In this case, the order came from health officials and staff complied, he said.

“This is the first case we’ve had to step in,” Flynn said.

This incident prompted temporary closures and cleaning

The airport did not have any more departing flights that day and cordoned off the passenger area, Flynn said. A cleaning contractor came and sanitized the area.

“It was completely contained,” Flynn said, adding there were no unnecessary exposures.

Parts of the Capital Region International Airport were closed down and sanitized after a person who tested positive for COVID-19 attempted to board a plane before being stopped by airport and health officials.

The airport has protective equipment for its employees, the necessary sanitizing products and cleaning staff ready, Flynn said.

“We’ve been ready for this case, or if someone comes through airport and later found out they tested positive,” Flynn said. “We have a plan in place for that as well.”

Contact reporter Craig Lyons at 517-377-1047 or calyons@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @craigalyons.