A Texas mom, who works as a teacher, is facing prison time after she was charged for locking up her COVID-positive son inside a car trunk when they drove for additional tests, for fear she would contract the virus as well.
Witnesses at the testing site saw the 13-year-old boy inside the trunk, and they reported Sarah Beam, 41, to the Houston police. She was subsequently arrested and charged with endangering a child. The mom was able to post a bond, but she will still have to face the courts at a later date.
According to Click2Houston, Beam arrived at a drive-thru testing site in Harris County and then unlatched the trunk where her boy was lying inside. However, the healthcare worker said they would not administer any tests until the mom allowed her son at the backseat of her car.
Beam allegedly said her son was COVID positive, and they drove for additional tests. To protect herself, she thought that putting the boy in the trunk was the best option.
Putting Her Son in Harm's Way
Texas Department of Public Safety Sgt. Richard Standifer said that, while the boy was not hurt, his mother should have made him ride inside the car and protected him with a seatbelt, which is the law. In case the car crashes, Standifer said that the 13-year-old would never be secure inside the trunk.
The officer added that car trunks have "crumple zones" designed to absorb the impact of a car crash at the front and the rear. Thus, the boy would be at greater risk in case of a collision.
Beam is an English teacher with Cypress Falls High School and has worked at the Cy-Fair school district since 2011. Following her arrest, the school issued a statement to confirm that she had been placed on administrative leave.
If she's guilty of child endangerment, Beam could be in prison for two to 20 years and fined up to 10,000, depending on the nature of the felony.
What Parents Should do if Their Child Tested Positive
Meanwhile, pediatrician Dr. Dean Blumberg and epidemiologist George Rutherford said that masking is a good preventive measure against contracting the virus. Rutherford told Buzzfeed that there is "really good evidence" for using face masks to protect against COVID spread. Blumberg said that individuals using surgical masks are protected 70 percent of the time.
The experts also recommend getting face masks with three or four-ply protection, such as the KN95 or N95 mask, which have kids' sizes. Blumberg said that the children should be wearing the masks comfortably. Otherwise, they will not wear the mask at all.
COVID testing provides an extra layer of protection, but Rutherford said even if the child has a negative result, parents should be "extra sensitive" to the symptoms of a respiratory condition. These days, it's not comfortable for people to be around someone sneezing and coughing.
If a child is showing symptoms, it's best to stay at home and isolate for at least 10 days. COVID symptoms in kids vary as some can manifest in a matter of days, while it takes others to feel better for more than a week.
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