A woman who climbed a fence to escape a COVID-19 isolation facility has been charged.
Police say the 43-year-old will appear in the Auckland District Court, once she has completed her managed isolation obligations.
She faces a charge of a breach of the COVID-19 Public Health Response Act.
The woman arrived from Brisbane on June 27 and returned a negative COVID-19 test three days later.
Earlier, Minister Megan Woods said people in isolation facilities need to take some personal responsibility.
"This is a clearly marked area where it's a given that you shouldn't be leaving it, we're not putting up the unclimbable walls at these hotels, we're asking those re-joining the team of five million to follow the rules."
Under the COVID-19 Public Health Response Act the maximum penalty is six months in prison or a $4000 fine, she said.
Five police officers attended the incident and went into isolation as a precaution, following an assessment four of the officers were deemed to have had no contact with the woman or took necessary measures and they have since returned for duty, says a police spokesperson.
One officer remains in isolation pending the result of a COVID-19 test.
7 comments
Hong Kong style
Posted on 06-07-2020 06:56 | By Slim Shady
Hold on a minute. A couple of weeks ago they were letting everyone mingle in so called quarantine, giving out exemptions and sending people on their way after a few days, without any tests. At least she had a test. Are they charging Mike Bush or Herr Digby? It’s do as I say not as I do. Hypocrites.
about time
Posted on 06-07-2020 10:00 | By hapukafin
Finally someone is charged for breaking covid 19 rules.So many others have broken isolation rules during the higher levels of lockdown and have not been charged.Who is accountable for allowing this to happen.Is it the PM ,MPs,health officials ,police job to enforce the rules .I hate to see the another lockdown with these benchmarks set.
Needed to happen.
Posted on 06-07-2020 11:25 | By morepork
After a history of slackness and incompetence it is about time they got serious about quarantine. But the worst part is that anyone would think the law doesn't apply to them and, for the sake of their personal convenience, would put the rest of the community at risk. It IS hard to be in lockdown; we know, we went through it, but it is also necessary, and people who have just returned here should be made aware of the efforts already made, and the fact that breaking quarantine puts the efforts of 5 million people at risk.
Morepork
Posted on 06-07-2020 15:33 | By Slim Shady
She got out so the slackness and incompetence is alive and well. Still, it's of no consequence but I am enjoying the show. And that is all it is - a circus show to appeal to narrow minded people who think it will work and can be upheld for 1 or 2 years. Mate, yer dreamin.
@Slim Shady
Posted on 07-07-2020 13:32 | By morepork
Your cynical enjoyment of a bad situation does you no credit. Policing the border is hard, but necessary. Despite your prophesy of doom, it won't be necessary for years to come. (We'll have a vaccine before that...) In the meantime the best we can do is what we are doing. It needs to have people behind it and backing it. This lady didn't and so there is a reckoning.
Dr Morepork
Posted on 07-07-2020 18:11 | By Slim Shady
Wow. My enjoyment is purely the Kiwi flapping and incompetence, not Covid per se. There are many scientists who do not share your confidence in an effective vaccine any time soon, if ever. But hopefully someone will come to your rescue, probably the Motherland. I see the circus has taken a new twist today, locking out fellow Kiwis who are dead in the water. Disgusting behaviour.
@ Slim Shady - Dr Morepork.
Posted on 08-07-2020 13:01 | By morepork
The fact that you SAY we are flapping does not make it so. There has certainly been incompetence, but that is true of EVERY country on Earth at the moment, including your precious "motherland". Boris is doing his best but the numbers speak for themselves. The thing about incompetence is to learn by it. I contend we are doing that. OUR numbers are much better than most countries and it is because most of us realize that, while it is tiresome, there are some things we need to do to keep us safe. I'm thankful that your vitriolic criticisms have no actual weight and the numbers continue to speak for themselves. Had we taken YOUR advice it would be a very different story.
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