Wisconsin man accused of breaking measles quarantine to go to gym

March 5, 2019, 20:47 GMT

By David K. Li

A Wisconsin man has been charged with violating quarantine of measles by leaving his home to go to the gym, according to court documents.

Jeffery Murawski, 57, of Brookfield, was charged on February 22 with deliberately violating the recommendations of a local health worker or exposing others to the risk of contracting a communicable disease.

His wife, Christine Bennett, 58, was charged with the same offense for allegedly helping to take measures that could expose people living in a public place to a communicable disease.

The charges stem from an incident that occurred on May 1, 2018, when Murawski was quarantined at his home "until it was considered non-contagious" by health officials in Waukesha County. or until May 7, 2018, indicates a complaint filed in a county court.

Murawski reportedly fled his home by hiding in a car driven by his wife. He went to a gym, although he then told the police that he only had a few minutes left because he "felt very guilty and had a stomach ache" for having decided to go out.

He was spotted by a sheriff's deputy who was aware of the quarantine order imposed on Murawski and saw him with a gym bag wandering down a street leading to a parking lot where was a car led by his wife, announced the complaint.

A short time later, a member of Parliament intercepted a car carrying Murawski and Bennett. The MP asked Murawski: "Are not you supposed to be at home?" Murawski "bowed his head and said yes and began to apologize profusely," according to the complaint.

Murawski reportedly admitted having broken his 40s because he was "going crazy", having had to stay inside since April 26th.

Quarantine on Murawski was the least restrictive type, according to the complaint.

Although he was supposed to stay home at all times, "members of his immediate family living in the residence (were allowed) to enter and leave the residence at any time because they had been vaccinated against the virus, "said the complaint.

It is not known whether Murawski had measles at the time or was quarantined when he was infected.

State health officials told NBC News that they had not registered any cases of measles in Wisconsin last year, and a county health spokesman declined to discuss the problem of health of the suspect, citing privacy laws.

"I can tell you when a person is quarantined, not because they have measles, but because they have been exposed and have no evidence of immunity," NBC said. News Department of Health Services spokeswoman Elizabeth Goodsitt.

"Someone with measles would be isolated," she said.

Murawski and Bennett's murder charges result in up to 30 days in jail and $ 500 in fines.

The reasons for the indictment of Murawski and Bennett at the end of February, nearly 10 months after the alleged violation, were unclear.