Stuff Digital Edition

Covid-positive Ardern beams in

Thomas Manch

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has returned to Parliament after contracting Covid-19, virtually attending a sitting of the House.

Ardern yesterday afternoon attended Question Time in the House remotely, beaming into the chamber on large televisions used to display MPs attending via videolink.

The prime minister tested positive for Covid-19 on Saturday morning, though had already been self-isolating due to her fiance, Clarke Gayford, testing positive for the virus a week prior.

In the days since, Ardern was said to be experiencing moderate symptoms of the virus.

She missed the launch of the Government’s first Emissions Reduction Plan, or carbon budget, on Monday, and a sitting of the House on Tuesday.

An upcoming trade mission to the United States has also been thrown into question by Ardern’s Covid-19 diagnosis. Ardern was due to leave for the US late this month and was to give a high-profile commencement speech at Harvard University on May 26.

Ardern’s office has said the US trip is unaffected, at this stage.

Yesterday afternoon, Ardern beamed into Parliament to field a question from National Party leader Christopher Luxon on the Government’s 2022 Budget, due to be published today.

News

en-nz

2022-05-19T07:00:00.0000000Z

2022-05-19T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://fairfaxmedia.pressreader.com/article/281547999497586

Stuff Limited