Guards and taxi driver isolated for quarantine breaches

By Talaia Mika

APIA, SAMOA – 17 MARCH 2022: Two security guards at a quarantine site and a taxi driver have been taken into quarantine due to physical contact with passengers in isolation.

Acting Police Commissioner, Papalii Monalisa Tiai-Keti told Talamua that police are awaiting their release to proceed with normal process to be charged for breach of SOE and quarantine procedures.

“I confirm that two security guards and a taxi driver have been brought in for isolation but we can’t investigate further as they’re currently in isolation; so we’re waiting for when they’re released,” she said.

“But they’re definitely subject to breach of quarantine orders,” explained Papali’i.

The incident took place last week where two security guards at one of the quarantine sites were given cash by passengers in isolation who then arranged a taxi driver to do the shopping and brought it to the quarantine site.

The taxi driver was traced down and brought into isolation with the two guards and the passengers involved have been relocated to another quarantine site.

Talamua understands that the owner of the accommodation the passengers were isolated in has requested the full payment for the required isolation time the facility was booked for.

Attempts to get a comment from the National Emergency Operations Committee’s chairman, Agafili Shem Leo were unsuccessful as of news time.

The current fine for any breach of the Covid-19 State of Emergency orders is $2,000 tala.