New Zealand coronavirus patient escapes quarantine

New Zealand today announced it will press charges against a coronavirus patient who absconded from quarantine to go to a supermarket last night. 

The 32-year-old man – who was ordered into isolation after arriving in the country from India on July 3 – escaped through a fence at his Auckland hotel before browsing the aisles and even taking selfies at a local store. 

New Zealand’s health minister today condemned the man’s escape as an ‘act of selfishness that we intend to use the full weight of the law to stop’. 

The Pacific country has not seen a new domestic case since May 22, but lapses in border security could expose it to a fresh cluster of infections. 

A New Zealand coronavirus patient escaped from his quarantine hotel last night and browsed the aisles at this local store in Auckland (file photo) 

Air Commodore Darryn Webb, New Zealand’s head of managed isolation and quarantine, said the 32-year-old had tested positive for the virus today. 

The man escaped through a fence at the Stamford Plaza hotel while he was out smoking yesterday evening, Webb explained. 

Security staff tried unsuccessfully to follow him and the man remained out of sight until he eventually returned to the hotel at 8pm. 

His movements were eventually traced to a Countdown store on Auckland’s Victoria Street West, where CCTV showed him browsing the aisles and using a self-checkout. 

A supermarket executive told Radio New Zealand that the man ‘did a lot of browsing in the health and beauty aisle’ while he was in the store. 

‘He had a phone with him, and he was taking photos with the phone…. Yes selfies, that’s right,’ corporate affairs manager Kiri Hannifin said.  

CCTV footage did not show the man coming into close contact with anyone else, but the supermarket is being deep-cleaned and its staff will be tested. 

‘The actions of this man are completely unacceptable,’ said Webb as he announced the man would be charged under emergency coronavirus laws. 

‘Returnees are given clear instructions and information about what their responsibilities are,’ he said. 

‘Managed isolation is a critical part in our defence against Covid-19, and it is up to each and every person entering this country to play their part.’  

New Zealand's government (led by prime minister Jacinda Ardern, pictured centre) has scrapped domestic lockdown restrictions but kept the border firmly closed

New Zealand’s government (led by prime minister Jacinda Ardern, pictured centre) has scrapped domestic lockdown restrictions but kept the border firmly closed  

Depending on exactly what charges are brought, the man could face a fine or a maximum of six months in jail if found guilty. 

New Zealand’s health ministry said that ‘while investigations are ongoing, the current assessment of risk is low’. 

The man was wearing a mask but admitted to investigators that he had removed it ‘for short periods’, the health ministry said. 

The New Zealand citizen had arrived in the country on July 3 from New Delhi and was quarantined in a hotel like all new arrivals. 

The renegade patient takes the country’s total number of cases to 1,537, including 350 ‘probable’ infections without a positive test result. There have been 22 deaths. 

New Zealand’s government says it has been 68 days since the last locally-acquired infection from an unknown source. 

PM Jacinda Ardern’s government scrapped almost all lockdown restrictions last month, with all shops open and gatherings of any size now permitted.   

However, the country’s border has remained closed since March to everyone except New Zealanders and their immediate relatives. 

At one stage the country went 24 consecutive days without a new case, but there have since been 33 new cases at the border in three weeks. There are 23 ‘active’ cases, with none currently in hospital. 

There was criticism of the government’s handling of two women who flew in from Britain and were not tested before being allowed to leave quarantine on compassionate grounds, and were subsequently found to be positive.  

Air New Zealand said yesterday it will stop taking bookings for three weeks amid fears of quarantine facilities becoming overcrowded.    

‘We are seeing rapid growth in the numbers of New Zealanders coming home as the Covid-19 pandemic worsens,’ said housing minister Megan Woods.

‘The last thing we need are hastily set up facilities to meet demand.’ The government is also talking to other airlines about managing flows, she said.