Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has tested negative for Covid-19 after being deemed a close contact of a positive case on a flight.
Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro and a staff member in the Prime Minister's office who were on the flight with her have also had negative results.
Ardern and Dame Cindy Kiro are self-isolating and took PCR tests after they were deemed close contacts of the positive Covid-19 case.
They and their fellow passengers were exposed to the coronavirus on a flight from Kerikeri to Auckland on 22 January.
Ardern is fully vaccinated and received a booster shot on January 17.
The flight - NZ8273 - was added to the Ministry of Health website as a location of interest on Saturday.
Ardern and Dame Cindy were in Northland undertaking advance filming at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds for the Waitangi Day broadcast.
The whole genome sequencing of the original case is also expected today.
Ardern's office said at the weekend that she felt well and had no symptoms.
2 comments
RATs
Posted on 31-01-2022 13:48 | By Kancho
If RATs were widely available like most countries the flight would have been screened Had N95 masks been worn by everyone too then even safer. Sadly all in short supply because again we hadn't t got a plan or a clue in spite of overseas experience and since October when omicron was obvious. Kids now under vacinated but going back to school. In the UK even kids antigen test themselves twice a week to attend school.
@Kancho
Posted on 01-02-2022 13:42 | By morepork
I totally share your dismay at the incompetence over acquisition and distribution of N95 masks and RAT tests. But, it is painfully obvious that no-one is listening and no action will be taken. The best we can do is remember and vote accordingly at the next election.
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