Papua New Guinea authorities say some people being repatriated are not adhering to quarantine rules.
Police Commissioner, David Manning. Photo: PNG police
Mandatory 14-day spells in quarantine for residents returning from overseas remain part of PNG's response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The State of Emergency Controller, Police Commissioner David Manning, issued a warning to citizens undergoing quarantine at designated facilities to strictly observe the protocols or face the consequences.
This followed reports of repatriated people breaching quarantine control measures.
Mr Manning said no person under quarantine was allowed to leave their room without written authority from him except in the case of an emergency.
He said if a person became ill or started showing symptoms of Covid-19 they should immediately contact the medical services.
"I must warn citizens that are coming into the country that the 14-days quarantine period and the protocols in place under the SOE are non-negotiable.
"Everyone must complete the 14-days quarantine period and must be cleared by a designated medical officer before leaving the quarantine facility," Mr Manning said.
Most of the people under quarantine were at hotels, where Commissioner Manning said both police and hotel security were placed on 24-hour basis to ensure the credibility of the quarantine was achieved.
"Non-compliance with the order by a non-PNG citizen or non-PNG permanent resident shall result in an immediate deportation, the cost of which shall be borne by that person and also legal action to be taken for breach of Emergency Orders," Mr Manning said.