A man in New Zealand who had tested positive for the coronavirus faces criminal charges after he escaped from an Auckland quarantine hotel and returned home, Reuters quoted authorities as saying.

In New Zealand, people who test positive for the virus are routinely required to isolate themselves in hotels run by the military. Authorities believe the man escaped early on Thursday and was on the run for about 12 hours before police dressed in full protective gear arrested him about 10 kilometres (6 miles) away.

Under a new COVID-19 law passed last year, the man could face a fine or up to six months in jail if found guilty of failing to comply with a health order. New Zealand is currently battling an outbreak of the delta variant in Auckland.