A woman allegedly scaled two balconies, climbed down an outside staircase and kicked through a door to escape hotel quarantine in Cairns on Sunday, police say.
Police realised she was missing yesterday afternoon.
The 32-year-old has since been taken into custody at Cairns City Watchhouse after being arrested at her mother's house.
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She had initially tested negative to coronavirus.
She allegedly broke out on the fifth or sixth day of her quarantine, Deputy Commissioner Steve Gollschewski said.
"She wanted to go home to her mother," Mr Gollschewski said.
"Quarantine can be very difficult to some people, particularly if they're by themselves."
Queensland Police have handed out 116 masks and issued two fines over the past 24 hours for breaching coronavirus restrictions.
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"A reminder for people, please carry your masks and wear them when you should," Mr Gollschewski said.
"We issued two fines, both in West End and the Fortitude Valley for people who, given the opportunity, refused to wear masks."
The alleged escapee arrived in Cairns from Sydney on July 1.
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It is not the first escape attempt from quarantine from Cairns Pacific International in the city.
In June a Victorian man was charged after allegedly trying to scale the outside of the building to escape.
The 29-year-old fell and injured his legs. He had been in hotel quarantine only a few hours.
Only one new local case of coronavirus has been diagnosed in Queensland in the past 24 hours.
Five cases of coronavirus were diagnosed in returning travellers in hotel quarantine.
