A man has been taken into police custody after allegedly escaping an Auckland managed isolation facility by climbing out of a fourth storey window and down a makeshift rope of bedsheets.

Head of managed isolation and quarantine Air Commodore Darryn Webb said around 8.20am on Monday, on-site security staff at the Ramada on Federal St located a number of sheets tied together, hanging from a window of a fourth floor room.

As the matter was being investigated, the man from that room presented himself at the front gate of the hotel around 8.24am, he said.

Webb said the man was immediately taken into police custody, and he remains at the facility undergoing questioning.

“So far, we have been unable to establish what time the man absconded the facility.

“Police inquiries are underway, including a review of CCTV to establish the man’s movements in the time he was outside the facility.”

Webb said security at the facility has been reviewed and immediate improvements have been made.

The man returned from Australia on a deportation flight on September 16. He tested negative on his day three test.

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He is on day 12 of his stay and has been asymptomatic throughout.

“Among deportees returning from Australia there have not been any positive Covid-19 cases confirmed.”

Webb said public health is the main focus and his team is currently working to determine his movements while he was outside of the facility and how he was able to leave.

“While this person’s exact movements are still being determined, immediate inquiries were conducted in the vicinity, which have not established any particular businesses or properties entered by the abscondee at this point.

“The police investigation is at an early stage, and initial indications are that this person has absconded by exiting via a fourth storey window and climbing down a makeshift rope, which is clearly an extremely dangerous act.”

Webb said the man had put himself and others at risk and labelled his actions “unacceptable”.

“Wilfully leaving our facilities will not be tolerated, and the appropriate action will be taken.”

Rules were in place for all returnees, Webb said, and people were expected to follow them for the entirety of their 14-day isolation.

Webb said there have been more than 55,000 people through managed isolation and quarantine facilities.

Of that, there had been nine incidents involving 13 people escaping.

“These incidents are rare, and we treat them extremely seriously.”

Despite the risk to the public being very low, anyone with concerns about their health should call Healthline on 0800 358 5453.