The Samoa Government has confirmed alleged breach of quarantine procedures, as reported earlier by Radio Polynesia, by a nurse and Government driver left managed isolation at the three Hearts Shrine quarantine site, to go to the ATM.

In a statement issued, the Government says that on Saturday afternoon, 29 January, the Disaster Finance Team from the Ministry of Finance reported to the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) the sighting of a vehicle assigned to the Three Hearts Shrine quarantine site at the SCB ATM location close to the Fugalei Market.

According to the statement, NEOC contacted the driver of the said vehicle to verify the movements of the vehicle that afternoon, in particular between 2.30pm to 3.45pm.

The statement comes after a number of messages and texts to the NEOC Chair, Peseta Noumea Simi and Director General Leausa Dr Take Naseri.

As reported earlier, several NEOC officials told Radio Polynesia, the men are front liners working to service the flight from Australia two weeks ago with passengers which are now positive for 30 COVID-19 cases.

“It was confirmed by the driver that prior to leaving the quarantine site at 2.30pm to refill the vehicle at the Government petrol station at Lepea, a quarantine nurse who had asked to be taken to an ATM joined his vehicle.

“The driver confirms stopping at the Fugalei SCB ATM for less than five minutes on return from the petrol station before proceeding to the MOH to pick up deliveries for the quarantine site, and then returning to the Three Hearts Shrine.”

The Government statement says both the driver and the nurse confirm that every precaution was taken to minimise their exposure to the general public, especially at the ATM site.

“The driver also remained in the vehicle for the duration of their travels. In addition, both workers were fully decontaminated prior to their leaving the quarantine site.

The matter is currently under Police investigation and personnel involved are grounded at the quarantine site for the remainder of the quarantine period.”

This is not the first time people in managed isolation have escaped from quarantine.

In October last year, Ioane Ponifasio escaped from quarantine site from Moamoa, hopped in a taxi to go to the money transfer office; but before doing that he visited his family and stopped by several companies.

In the end close to 7o bystanders were taken in for quarantine as a result and Ponifasio was charged by Police.