28 Dec 2020

Fire alarm prompts evacuation at managed isolation hotel in Auckland

7:11 am on 28 December 2020

More than 200 people were evacuated from a managed Isolation and quarantine (MIQ) hotel last night after a fire alarm went off.

Grand Mercure in Wellington is a managed isolation hotel for returning New Zealanders to curb the spread of Covid-19

Photo: RNZ / Denise Garland

The alarm at the Grand Mercure in Auckland went off shortly after 6pm, and the cause is under investigation.

An MIQ spokesperson said health protocols were followed including use of PPE and physical distancing.

The hotel was declared safe shortly before 7pm and people began returning to their rooms.