‘Such is life’: NZ PM Jacinda Ardern cancels wedding, reintroduces restrictions
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has revealed her own wedding will not go ahead as she brings back Covid restrictions across the country.
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New Zealand will bring back “red” Covid restrictions at midnight tonight, with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern revealing her own wedding will be cancelled.
The announcement on Sunday comes after it was confirmed that nine people who were recorded to have Covid yesterday had the Omicron variant, and a further household contact tested positive late yesterday.
An Air New Zealand flight attendant has also been infected during a flight the positive cases were on. The cases were a family who flew to Auckland for a wedding.
In the red traffic light setting, masks are mandatory when on public transport, in retail and for children above grade four in schools. There are capacity limits on retail, and with a “vaccine pass” many businesses, including hospitality, gyms and weddings, can have up to 100 people.
“My wedding will not be going ahead but I just join many other New Zealanders who have had an experience like that as a result of the pandemic,” Ms Ardern said in a press conference.
“To anyone whose caught up in that scenario I’m so sorry but we are all so resilient and I know we understand that we’re doing this for one another and I know that will help as continue on.”
When asked how she felt about it, Ms Ardern responded: “Such is life”.
“I’m no different to dare I say it thousands of other New Zealanders who have had much more devastating impacts felt by the pandemic.
“The most gutting of which the inability to be with a loved one sometimes when they’re gravely ill. That will far, far outstrip any sadness I experience.”
Ms Ardern became engaged to TV presenter Clarke Gayford in 2019. The couple have a three-year-old daughter, Neve.
New Zealand’s strategy is to “slow the spread” of Omicron.
“Our plan for managing Omicron in the early stage remains the same as Delta, where we will rapidly test, contact trace and isolate cases and contacts,” Ms Ardern said.
Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield explained household and other close contacts would have to isolate for 10 days and cases would have to isolate for 14 days.
“We’ve just gone back up to that in light of Omicron and to help with managing the spread in this early stage. We think we still have a good opportunity to potentially stamp it out or really reduce the Omicron transmission,” Dr Bloomfield said.
“Because it is Omicron we have taken an approach at this point in time where we are isolating contacts of close contacts initially until those close contacts return that negative day five test, then those second tier group of contacts can go about their normal day.”
It is in stark contrast to Australia, which has tens of thousands of new cases a day, where in most states positive cases and only household contacts have to isolate for seven days.
Originally published as ‘Such is life’: NZ PM Jacinda Ardern cancels wedding, reintroduces restrictions
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