The man who allegedly absconded from quarantine (MIQ) in Auckland while infected with COVID-19 has been granted bail.
He was a community case who entered the Novotel & Ibis Ellerslie MIQ facility on Wednesday evening and allegedly escaped in the early hours of Thursday.
The man was later arrested at an address in Ōtāhuhu, where police officers wearing full personal protective equipment took him into custody.
He's since appeared in the Auckland District Court via contactless video link after being charged under the COVID-19 Public Health Response Act.
The man was bailed to return to a MIQ facility, police said.
Earlier, joint head of MIQ Brigadier Rose King said it was a "disappointing and unacceptable breach", while COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins described it as "utterly unacceptable".
"The man's family have been extremely cooperative... and we thank them for this," a police spokesperson added.
