The woman who broke out of an Auckland hotel after returning to New Zealand has been returned to managed isolation.
She escaped from central Auckland's Pullman Hotel by jumping two fences on Saturday night, and was found by police just under two hours later.
Police say the 43-year-old was returned to managed isolation, but didn't specify if she was at the same hotel.
She was medically assessed while in police custody and was deemed fit to return to isolation.
Once she's completed her 14-day managed isolation, she will appear in the Auckland District Court where she'll face a charge under the COVID-19 Public Health Response Act. She could face a six-month jail term or a $4000 fine.
Five police officers helped get the woman into custody, but only two had immediate contact with her. Although the woman tested negative for the virus, all five officers went into self-isolation as a precaution.
"Following an assessment in conjunction with the Ministry of Health, four of the officers were deemed to have had no contact or took necessary measures. These officers have since returned for duty," police say.
One officer is still in self-isolation because they're waiting for the result of their COVID-19 test.
Air Commodore Darryn Webb, head of managed isolation and quarantine, commended the speed at which the woman was found and apprehended.
"This was excellent work by police staff who located the woman as quickly as possible. She was located outdoors. The exact movements of the woman are still being determined," he said on Sunday.
She travelled alone to New Zealand from Brisbane on June 27.
"We recognise that managed isolation can be stressful for people who come to it with a variety of circumstances," Webb says. "However, wilfully leaving our facilities cannot and will not be tolerated, and the appropriate action will be taken."
