A COVID-19 positive man who escaped from an Auckland quarantine hotel has been arrested by police.

In a statement, released by the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment, it said MIQ can confirm that a community case staying at the Jet Park Auckland Airport quarantine facility allegedly absconded at approximately 3.10 pm this afternoon.

The person was located by police and taken into custody at approximately 3.45 pm. 

MIQ Brigadier Rose King said the individual is a COVID-19 positive community case who has been in MIQ since Saturday 2 October. 

 “The fact that someone has absconded from one of our facilities is a disappointing and unacceptable breach.”

“We are investigating how this happened.”