The sheriff’s office accused her of causing a “panic” and instructed her to remove the post. A patrol sergeant with the sheriff’s office then went to the girl’s home and demanded the post be deleted or he was going to “start taking people to jail” on disorderly conduct charges.
Cohoon, who travelled to Florida for spring break with her high school band class, returned home and fell ill five days later. She went to the hospital and doctors told her that her symptoms were typical of COVID-19 but that she did not meet the criteria to get tested. She was sent home and told to quarantine.
However, her conditioned worsened and she was taken to a different hospital by ambulance. There, she posted a selfie from the hospital while wearing an oxygen mask. She was given a test that came back negative. Still, doctors told her that she likely had the coronavirus but missed the window for testing positive.
The girl and her parents are seeking nominal damages and a “declaration that the social media posts were protected free speech.”