Covid 19 coronavirus: quarantine violations revealed

By RNZ’s Ben Strang

Official figures show that 32 people violated the Covid-19 isolation rules during a 58-day period between April and June.

No one was charged and all were treated with warnings and education.

The violations occurred between April 17 and June 14, either due to running away, not returning, or attempting to flee from the managed isolation facilities.

Half of the infractions were people who did not return or were late after being granted an exemption to attend a funeral or tangi.

Seven people escaped isolation, including four who fled the Rydges Hotel in Auckland on May 10, which does not appear to have been publicly reported.

The four people were later found in the home of a relative.

After weighing the health risks, no charges were filed, but those involved were warned and educated.

The Ministry of Health conducted mobile tests of people with whom they had been in contact while they were out of isolation.

In a briefing to the Minister of Police on June 22, obtained under the Official Information Law, he said that the managed quarantine and isolation operation, called Operation Mercy, was in charge of the ministry and the Defense Force, not the policeman.

But the police helped locate and return people to isolation when asked.

The report said that “all the cases were successfully resolved by the agencies involved.”