(Trinidad Guardian) Jonelle John, the woman who was the first detected with the Omicron COVID-19 variant in T&T, has been charged.
The charge against her comes after two months of investigations by the Police Service.
John, 33, of San Juan, is expected to appear before an Arima magistrate on April 19.
The charge against her was laid by Sgt Marvin Francis. She was charged by way of a summons.
The charge states that she willingly omitted to carry out conditions given by the quarantine authority acting under the authority of the Quarantine Act, in which she was required to upload a negative PCR test result in an application to obtain a TT Travel Pass
Last December, John travelled from New York to Panama then T&T. She was said to be COVID-19-positive and breached this country’s travel protocols.
John had told Guardian Media in January that she was considering legal action. She claimed she never willingly attempted to gain access without a PCR test.
In that interview, she claimed that she, in fact, took two PCR tests and one Rapid Antigen test before she travelled from New York through Panama then T&T.
She said then that she was allowed to leave JFK International Airport to Panama pending her results from the two previous PCR tests, as she had a negative Rapid Antigen test.
It was when her flight arrived at Piarco International Airport it was discovered she entered without a PCR test. However, one of her PCR tests said she was negative while the other showed she was positive.
Since then, John has been at the centre of an investigation.
Speaking on behalf of his client, attorney Siddiq Mansano told Guardian Media he is aware that John has been charged.
