Covid 19 coronavirus: woman escapes isolation at Grand Millennium hotel in Auckland

A woman is likely to face police charges after trying to escape twice in two days from a managed isolation facility in Auckland.

At approximately one a.m. this morning, security at the scene intercepted a woman attempting to escape from the Grand Millennium Hotel through an emergency exit.

“As a result of the police speaking with the woman and making inquiries, it was established that the women had escaped the night before on October 8 between 1.07 in the morning and returned at 3.09 in the morning,” said the head of managed isolation and quarantine Darryn Webb.

Normally, all fire exits that cannot be monitored by CCTV, or that are not alarmed, are monitored by security guards posted near them.

“Unfortunately, a local decision was made that meant those guards were elsewhere that night,” Webb said.

“Police continue to review CCTV footage to account for their movements during this time and charges are likely to be filed.”

CCTV shows that the woman has entered and around the city center.

This morning she was intercepted by security at the facility as she tried to escape for the second time.

They took a swab this morning and tested negative.

The woman arrived from Dubai on October 7. She also tested negative on October 1 in a pre-flight test and was cleared to fly. Your next test is scheduled for tomorrow, which will coincide with your routine test on Day 3.

A spokesperson for the Grand Millennium declined to comment and referred media inquiries to the Health Ministry.

Webb said a public health assessment was being conducted as interviews and investigations continued to identify the nature of any contact with people outside of the managed isolation facility.

“However, it is reassuring that the tests prior to arrival and also this morning are negative and that she is asymptomatic. Standard Covid-19 procedures were followed by the police and staff who were in contact with the person.”

“A permanent security presence has been established outside your room to ensure you remain on the premises.”

Webb said that while absonating incidents were rare, “we treat them extremely seriously.”

“While I am sure we have strong security measures in place, these hotels are not prisons and this person intentionally escaped once, then tried to repeat this the following night when he was caught by security.

“There are rules for every returnee and we expect people to follow them during their 14-day stay in controlled isolation. This is so they can return to the community safely, while ensuring the safety of all New Zealanders.”

There have been nearly 60,000 people through controlled isolation and quarantine and only 10 incidents involving 14 people fleeing controlled isolation, Webb said.

Isolation slips away

July 4th
Suzanne Marie Derrett, 43, allegedly climbed two hurdles at the Pullman hotel in Auckland’s financial district and left on foot. They found her almost two hours later, two blocks away on Anzac Ave.

July 7
A 32-year-old man slipped through a gap in the fence around Auckland’s smoking area at Stamford Plaza. She took a 70-minute excursion, which included shopping at a downtown Countdown supermarket, where she took selfies in the aisles. He returned to the hotel and then tested positive for Covid-19 the next day.

July 9th
Queenstown man Martin James McVicar, 52, ran away from the Distinction Hotel in Hamilton. McVicar allegedly cut the fence ties and walked 10 minutes to buy beer and wine. He was incarcerated in Spring Hill Prison and charged with failing to comply with Covid-19 public health laws. He was also charged with intentional damage to a television.
at the hotel.

July 24
Five people escaped from the Distinction Hotel in Hamilton. A 37-year-old woman and three young men were found and detained around 8 p.m. that night, and the fifth, a 17-year-old boy, was arrested in Auckland at 4:30 a.m. the next day.

16 of September
A man escaped Sudima Rotorua through a fence and spent half an hour outside the facility.
The man was taken to the hospital for evaluation, due to concerns for his well-being.