New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins tested positive for COVID-19, putting him in isolation two weeks ahead of the country’s general election. "Bugger! After a rough night I woke up this morning feeling pretty unwell and just got this test result,” Hipkins posted on his official Facebook page Sunday. "I’m in close contact with New Zealanders on the campaign trail and I don’t want to pass it on to anyone, so I’ll be following the guidance and isolating for a few days or until I get a negative test.”
Hipkins has cold and flu symptoms, according to a statement from his office, and will be isolating for five days or until he tests negative. He will continue with engagements he can undertake via Zoom, it said.
There are two weeks to go until the Oct. 14 vote, with Hipkins running out of time to convince voters that Labour deserves a third term.
Hipkins’ Facebook post thanked "volunteers and supporters who I know will keep our campaign going in my absence.”
"There’s a lot at stake this election, and I’ll be working doubly hard when I can get back out there to make sure Labour is re-elected,” he wrote.
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2023/10/01/asia-pacific/politics/new-zealand-pm-covid/
There have been 2968 new cases of Covid-19 reported in New Zealand over the past week, and 14 further deaths attributed to the virus.
Of the new cases, 1314 were reinfections.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/499212/covid-19-update-2968-new-cases-14-deaths-attributed-to-virus
I live in a small town in the SI of NZ pop 300. Half the people here are sick and dying.
Is the population there extremely vaccinated with up-to-date boosters and the new one? I dont mask, let alone get injected with crap. Just curious since NZ seems to be being held all but hostage by its government with the covid lunacy.
Still to this day, while people around me have gotten ill each year, none passed from it, 2 got bad enough for a quick in and out of Hospital (lung congestion and dehydration), I just got the mild sniffles and sneezes only. DID have a month long cough though last spring what was weird, kind of like a smokers cough but, never got bad, just very upper lung blip.
sad. God save them