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Coronavirus crisis: Victorian charged after allegedly escaping hotel isolation to catch Perth public transport

Caitlyn RinoulThe West Australian
The man allegedly broke self-isolation rules by escaping his hotel room and catching public transport around Perth.
Camera IconThe man allegedly broke self-isolation rules by escaping his hotel room and catching public transport around Perth. Credit: Don Palmer/WA News

An interstate traveller holed up in a hotel in Perth under strict quarantine laws has been arrested and charged after he allegedly flouted self-isolation rules and escaped the hotel on a number of occasions.

According to police the 35-year-old wedged open a fire exit door at the hotel to leave without being seen by staff before allegedly getting on public transport around Perth.

The Victorian was arrested and charged with two counts of failing to comply today and had bail refused on the grounds that it is feared he would continue to be the health others at risk.

He arrived in WA from Victoria on March 28 and ordered under the Emergency Management Act to self quarantine for the mandated 14 days — which would have seen him confined to his hotel room until April 13.

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He remains in custody due to the perceived threat of repeat offending and will face court at a later date.

The alleged break out is the first reported incident of a traveller under mandatory quarantine at a hotel breaching the order.

In Perth, the Duxton Hotel, the Pan Pacific, Crown Metropol, Crown Promenade and Novotel have been enlisted to accommodate hundreds of interstate and international travellers for a mandatory 14 days of isolation.

The incident comes after several charges of failure to self-isolate, including a 61-year-old Carlisle man who returned from Indonesia on March 19 and 73-year-old Geraldton man who returned from NZ on March 26 and was allegedly spotted talking to people outside his retirement village, before visiting the shops and going cycling.

In WA, ignoring a public health order can result in 12 months imprisonment or a fine of $50,000.

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