Pacific

French Polynesia Covid-19 quarantine undermined

11:22 am on 17 May 2020

A woman in French Polynesia has left her quarantine after challenging the authorities about the terms of her confinement.

She is one of three people having taken their restrictions to court in Papeete on the basis that France's constitutional court decided that nobody was allowed to be deprived of their liberty without seeing a judge.

Photo: supplied

While awaiting the decision in Papetee, she asked to be allowed to self-isolate but according to her lawyer, she was told that she was free to go.

The French Polynesian government said anyone entering the territory from mainland France would have to be tested for Covid-19 before departure and go into quarantine for two weeks on arrival.

The court decision is expected tomorrow.

The health minister said the efforts of the population to keep the virus at bay were put at risk.