Users cop isolation costs

EVERYONE arriving in the country, including PNG citizens, will now pay for their quarantine costs effective from Wednesday (Dec 1), National Pandemic Response Controller David Manning says.
The costs, including quarantining in hotels and the wearing of tracking devices or phone-tracking applications, which is conditional for those who have applied for home quarantine, or for those in hotel quarantine that have come from high-risk countries.
Manning said in a statement yesterday that tough economic situation being brought about by the pandemic and its effects on the economy had resulted in the decision to save much-needed funds for use in other areas important to the country’s Covid-19 response.
He directed that persons arriving into the country from destinations away from Australia, New Zealand and Pacific Island countries be subject to being monitored by an approved tracking device or tracking application at their own cost.
“This is for both citizens and non-citizens and includes those that are approved to be home-quarantined to use tracking technology,” Manning said.
“We are doing this because of great concern that people are not adhering to strict quarantine rules, especially those from the countries away from Australia, New Zealand and Pacific Island countries.
“They will remain quarantined for 14 days on arrival and should remain in that place for self-quarantined and segregated from other persons for 14 days.” Manning said those arriving from Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific island countries would continue to be quarantined for seven days, however, they will be required to use tracking technology if approved home quarantine.
He warned that those who failed to adhere to the strict conditions could be declared persona non grata and face deportation if they were non-citizens, while citizens would be penalised according to the National Pandemic Act 2020.