Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro have been deemed a close contact of a positive Covid-19 case, and have entered self-isolation in line with Ministry of Health advice.
The exposure event took place on Saturday 22 January during flight NZ8273 from Kerikeri to Auckland. Flight NZ8273 was added to the Ministry of Health website as a location of interest late last evening.
UPDATE: PM Jacinda Ardern has since returned a negative COVID-19 test result after she was deemed a close contact and had to self-isolate. She will continue isolating until the end of Tuesday, February 1 or as advised by Public Health.
The Governor-General and members of her staff were also on board and are following the same isolation instructions.
The Prime Minister is asymptomatic and is feeling well, according to a media release by her office late last night. She will be tested today and will isolate until Tuesday.
All other passengers on board NZ8273 are also deemed close contacts and are required to self-isolate, get tested immediately and remain in isolation for 10 days following their exposure.
They will also need to follow further isolation and testing requirements provided by public health officials. They can record their exposure online or call Healthline on 0800 358 5453 so contact tracers can get in touch.
People who have been in contact with close contacts are not required to take any action.
Whole genome sequencing for the case has been requested with an expected result on Sunday. The result is expected to indicate that the case has been infected with the Omicron variant and the public health response reflects this.
Prime Minister Ardern is fully vaccinated and received her booster shot earlier this month.
The Prime Minister and Governor-General were in Northland undertaking advance filming at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, at the invitation of the Waitangi National Trust for the Waitangi Day broadcast.
– from NewsViews
