Influencer, 20, is arrested in Hawaii for breaking the state’s mandatory 14-day quarantine after posting videos of herself dancing in a store and dining out just four days after she arrived
- Anne Salamanca, 20, allegedly violated Hawaii’s mandatory 14-day quarantine
- Investigators arrested Salamanca after seeing videos of her dancing in a store
- She was allegedly spotted dining out when she was supposed to be quarantining
- She is a social media influencer in Philippines who goes by Mika Salamanca
- After her arrest, she took to social media to apologize for her actions in Hawaii
- She claimed local cops said she could go out if she tested negative for COVID-19
- Investigators denied that claim, calling her actions dangerous and concerning
Anne Salamanca arrived in Honolulu on July 6 and four days later, she allegedly violated Hawaii’s 14-day quarantine
A 20-year-old social media influencer was arrested earlier this month for allegedly violating Hawaii’s mandatory 14-day quarantine policy by dancing in a store and dining at a restaurant just four days after she arrived in the state.
Investigators with the Hawaii attorney general’s office arrested Anne Salamanca after seeing videos of her dancing in the business when she was supposed to be obeying a traveler quarantine the state mandated to protect against the spread of the coronavirus.
Salamanca arrived in Honolulu on July 6 and four days later, the Hawaii Tourism Authority learned she was out in public, in violation of the 14-day quarantine, the state said in a news release Friday.
The tourism authority informed attorney general special agents, who were shown videos of her dancing and dining.
The videos were reportedly recorded at a Sephora at Ala Moana Center and at a Korean restaurant on Ke’eaumoku Street in Honolulu.
According to the state’s news release, Salamanca is from Birmingham, Alabama.
She’s also a social media influencer in the Philippines who goes by Mika Salamanca and arrived from Manila, according to KITV.
Salamanca later took to social media to apologize for her actions.
Salamanca (left and right) is a social media influencer in the Philippines who goes by Mika Salamanca and arrived to Hawaii from Manila
Salamanca later took to social media (pictured) to apologize for her actions. ‘I admit that I made a mistake at the time when I arrived in Hawaii and we went out right away. I’m sorry,’ she told her followers
‘I admit that I made a mistake at the time when I arrived in Hawaii and we went out right away. I’m sorry,’ she told her followers.
She also claimed in the video that police had come to the house where she was staying and told her that if she had a negative COVID-19 test that she could go out.
‘None of my investigators would convey that information, as it is incorrect,’ Hawaii Attorney General Clare Connors said.
‘The fact Ms. Salamanca has so many followers makes her actions that much more dangerous and concerning.
‘The spread of misinformation can have very severe consequences during an emergency situation like we are in now,’ Connors added.
According to members of the Hawaii Quarantine Kapu Breakers Facebook group, Salamanca and her friends posted other videos of them hiking in Lanikai. The posts have since been deleted.
Salamanca was arrested and released on $2,000 bail.
The Associated Press couldn’t immediately reach her Friday. It wasn’t clear if she has an attorney.
Salamanca (left and right) was arrested and released on $2,000 bail, authorities said