Student left quarantine without applying for an exemption because it ‘takes too long’
A PUBLIC health student has been fined around $1500 for leaving mandatory COVID-19 quarantine
Northern Territory
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A PUBLIC health student has been fined about $1500 for leaving mandatory COVID-19 quarantine to attend a family friend’s memorial service without applying for an exemption because “it takes too long”.
Shawnakay Sajanie Ramsay, 21, pleaded guilty in the Darwin Local Court on Wednesday to contravening an emergency declaration on June 29.
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The court heard Ramsay flew into Darwin from Queensland on June 16 during the time that all interstate arrivals to the NT went into 14 days’ mandatory quarantine at a nominated address.
Arrivals were allowed to leave quarantine only for medical treatment, in an emergency or with an approved exemption from the NT’s Chief Health Officer.
Police attended the Rapid Creek address where Ramsay was supposed to be quarantining about 24 hours before her quarantine ended.
They returned to her apartment twice more that afternoon to see she was still out before finding her there when they returned at 7.30pm.
When asked where she had been, the court heard Ramsay told police she had been at a memorial service but “did not elaborate”.
When asked why she didn’t apply for an exemption, the court heard Ramsay said: “I thought about an exemption but it takes too long.”
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Prosecutor Lee Campbell said it was ironic Ramsay was studying public health when the offence she committed was “a major concern for public health in the COVID-19 environment.”
She was ordered to pay a $1400 fine and a $150 victims’ levy.
No conviction was recorded.