A GARDA manhunt is underway after three people left mandatory hotel quarantine just a day after arriving.
They are understood to have absconded from the Crowne Plaza in Santry, Dublin, at some time around 2pm this Saturday, March 27th.
Gardai were subsequently called to the scene and are working with the State Liaison Officer to try and track the whereabouts of the three.
A garda spokesperson said: "An Garda Síochána are this afternoon liaising with the State Liaison Officer at a designated quarantine facility in the Dublin area, in accordance with current protocols.
"As the Department of Health are the lead agency in relation to the management of mandatory quarantining, An Garda Síochana will not be commenting further at this time."
It has been reported that one of the three has since been found but that has yet to be confirmed.
The Department of Health previously warned anyone resisting quarantine or leaving a facility without authorisation would be liable for a fine of up to €2,000, one month in prison or both.
Gardai have confirmed they will investigate the three abscondences and determine the necessary punishment.
The mandatory hotel quarantine applies to all passengers who arrive into Ireland from one of 33 designated countries, or for anyone who has been in any of these countries within 14 days of their arrival into Ireland.
It means if you fly from, for example, Brazil to Heathrow and then into Dublin Airport, you will still have to quarantine, as you have been in an affected area within 14 days of arriving into Ireland.
The hotel quarantine also applies to anyone, from any country, who does not present a negative Covid-19 PCR test on arrival into Ireland, even if they have not been in one of the 33 'high risk' countries.
But everyone-- regardless of which country they are travelling from-- must restrict their movements at a named premises for 14 days when they arrive into Ireland. A passenger location form must be filled out before you arrive in Ireland stating your contact details and where you will be staying, and this may be checked by gardaí during this time.
