STORY: New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has tested positive for COVID-19 and has moderate symptoms.<\/p>\n
Thats according to a statement from her office on Saturday, which said Ardern began showing symptoms on Friday evening.<\/p>\n
Her partner Clarke Gayford and their daughter both tested positive earlier in the week.<\/p>\n
Ardern is now required to isolate until the morning of May 21, and will undertake what duties she can remotely.<\/p>\n
She will not be in parliament for the government's emissions reduction plan on Monday and the budget on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson will address the media in her place on Monday.<\/p>\n
In the statement, Ardern said she was gutted to miss what she called the governments milestone week.<\/p>\n
But added that \"isolating with COVID-19 is a very kiwi experience this year and my family is no different.\"<\/p>\n
ARDERN: \"Today represents a significant milestone in our recovery plan.\"<\/p>\n
On Wednesday, Ardern announced New Zealand would fully reopen its international borders on August 1.<\/p>\n
The country's had some of the strictest COVID measures throughout the pandemic and one of lowest death rates in the world.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Link:<\/p>\n
New Zealand's Ardern tests positive for COVID-19<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" STORY: New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has tested positive for COVID-19 and has moderate symptoms. Thats according to a statement from her office on Saturday, which said Ardern began showing symptoms on Friday evening. Continue reading