Passenger reaction to sneezing person causes plane to divert

DENVER (AP) — Passengers' fears over the possible spread of the coronovirus appear to be the cause of a plane's unscheduled landing.

Officials say a group of people became disruptive because a neighboring passenger was coughing and sneezing on Sunday's flight from Eagle County, Colorado, to Newark International Airport.

The United Airlines plane diverted to Denver, where police officials told KUSA-TV three people were removed who were upset about the passenger who they thought was sick.

United officials told KCNC-TV that the passenger was sneezing due to allergies, did not have a fever and was allowed to continue on the flight. 

Colorado requires some insurers to waive virus test fees

DENVER (AP) — Colorado will soon require the health insurance insurers it regulates to fully cover testing, under certain conditions, for the new coronavirus.

The Division of Insurance is ordering insurers to waive co-pays, deductibles and coinsurance payments for covered persons seeking testing for the virus.

The waivers apply only to patients who have been in close contact with someone who’s tested positive and who shows symptoms of lower respiratory illness. They also apply to patients with symptoms who’ve traveled to areas where infection rates are high, or patients hospitalized with severe respiratory illnesses without a diagnosis.

Colorado announced a ninth positive test for the virus on Monday.