Passengers breach quarantine

By MIRIAM ZARRIGA
SEVERAL of the 114 persons who arrived from India last Thursday have fled from their quarantine facility, Prime Minister James Marape says.
“The authorities are now in the midst of rounding them up,” he said.
Among the 114, four have been tested positive for the Coronavirus (Covid-19), but it is not known whether any of them were among those who fled.
Marape yesterday said he had also ordered a probe to ascertain how unauthorised passengers boarded Indonesia’s Garuda Air from India and disembarked at the airport.
The Government had in April banned all fights from India, a nation ravaged by Delta, to protect Papua New Guineans from the disease.
“I have called for an investigation to ascertain how the passengers from India boarded the Garuda jet and to determine whether they had strictly complied with all our Covid-19 protocols,” Marape said.
“Those who breached the protocols will be charged and fined under the Pandemic Control Act.”
The National has learnt that 114 passengers landed at the airport at 3.10am last Thursday and that all passengers disembarked with the jet leaving for Fiji’s Nadi with 11 new passengers.
The same jet returned last Friday with four passengers and departed with 59 passengers to Indonesia’s Jakarta.
National Pandemic Response Controller David Manning had approved only 42 passengers (subject to information update) from India, under special circumstances, to travel to Port Moresby on Flight GA-7610. Marape said the flight was a specially approved chartered flight that was approved upon a request sent to the controller’s office and only the controller understood the circumstances of the flight.
“Occasionally, flights are allowed, but they stick to the strict protocols as far as the Covid-19 protocols are concerned. For instance; the flight had the Indian high commissioner on board (to return for duty),” he said.
“I also received a report that a few (unauthorised) passengers boarded in Jakarta.
“Our country is working to fight the pandemic and we have tailored specific Covid-19 protocols for specific operations.
“We do welcome businesses into our country, but they have to adhere to the Covid-19 protocols.
“Last week, I met the Total managing director.
“He came under strict Covid-19 protocols, he was vaccinated, cleared and masked. Specific protocols must be adhered to.”