Bermudian couple back in court on new quarantine charges

A Bermuda couple reappeared in Magistrates' Court on Wednesday denying additional charges of breaching the government's coronavirus (COVID-19) quarantine regulations.

Sophia Cannonier, 53, and Michael Watson, 46, were charged with refusing to comply with a mandatory quarantine order as directed by a health officer after leaving their Devonshire parish home before permitted.

Cannonier, owner of a Pilates studio, was also charged with allowing unauthorised people to visit her in quarantine.

The couple, who both appeared in court from their home via Zoom, pleaded not guilty to all charges.

The incidents were alleged to have happened on Tuesday.

The allegations came a week after they were charged with refusing to comply with a mandatory quarantine required of unvaccinated travellers and failing to complete a travel authorisation form after flying home from Britain with their two children.

The couple also denied those charges, which were alleged to have happened on July 11.

Senior Magistrate Juan Wolffe released them each on US$3,000 bail and ordered them to stay at home until they received a negative day-14 COVID-19 test, which will take place on Sunday.

He adjourned the case to August 16.

A conviction could lead to a $25,000 fine or six months in prison.

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