On day 13 on lockdown, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern joined Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield for a combined press conference.
Dr Bloomfield announced there are 54 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total to 1,160.
Dr Bloomfield also pointed to the World Health Organisation’s updated advice on the use of face masks.
According to WHO, officials do not recommend the use of medical masks by the general public except where someone is sick or someone is caring for a sick person.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern started by sharing her disappointment with Health Minister David Clark’s breaching of the lockdown rules by travelling 20 km to a beach with his family.
“Under normal circumstances, I would sack the minister. What he did was wrong and there are no excuses,” says the Prime Minister. “David Clark is under no illusions that I expect better and so does New Zealand.”
Despite making a “massive mistake”, Ardern says now is not the time to fire Clark as it would impact their COVID-19 response. “We have a job to do and I’m determined that we need to get on with it.”
Ardern also noted the relatively steady rate of cases in the past few days. It suggests that the lockdown measures are working. “As with any data analyses, there is the possibility of setbacks but we do appear on track,” says Ardern.
Ardern also announced that under the new wage subsidy scheme, over 1 million New Zealand jobs have been saved.
The Prime Minister finished her announcement by sending a message to Prime Minister Boris Johnson who is currently in ICU from COVID-19. “This more than ever is a time when every nation is connected. We want everyone in the UK, especially the prime minister to know that we are thinking of them.”
