New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern tests positive for Covid-19; isolated
Wellington (New Zealand), May 14: New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Saturday informed that she had tested positive for Covid-19.
"Despite best efforts, unfortunately, I've joined the rest of my family and tested positive for Covid-19," Ardern said on social media Saturday morning.
The New Zealand Prime Minister has been isolated at home with her family since Sunday when her fiancee Clarke Gayford tested positive for the infection.
"We've been isolating since Sunday when Clarke first tested positive. Neve (Ardern's daughter) tested positive on Wednesday, and I returned a weak positive last night and a strong one this morning," she informed.
Ardern further said, "To anyone else out there, isolating or dealing with COVID, I hope you take good care of yourselves."
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According to a statement by the New Zealand government, Ardern's arrangements for her upcoming trade mission to the United States are unaffected.
Although she is slated to deliver the commencement address at Harvard University on May 26, details of the trip have yet to be verified.
Ardern will be absent from parliament for two high-profile domestic announcements: the government's emissions reduction plan will be released on Monday, and the annual budget will be unveiled on Thursday.
"This is a milestone week for the government and I'm gutted I can't be there for it," Ardern stated.
"Our emissions reduction plan sets the path to achieve our carbon zero goal and the budget addresses the long-term future and security of New Zealand's health system...But as I said earlier this week, isolating with Covid-19 is a very Kiwi experience this year and my family is no different," she added.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health in New Zealand recorded 7,441 new community cases of Covid-19, with 2,503 of them in Auckland, the country's largest city.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, the government has reported 1,026,715 confirmed Covid-19 cases.
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-PTC News
