New Zealand’s prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, has gone into self-isolation until Tuesday after being deemed a close contact of a person who tested positive for Covid.
The exposure took place last Saturday during a flight to Auckland from the town of Kerikeri, the government said. Test results showing whether the infected person had the Omicron variant are expected on Sunday.
“The prime minister is asymptomatic and is feeling well. In line with Ministry of Health advice she will be tested immediately tomorrow and will isolate until Tuesday,” her office said. “The governor general and members of her staff were also onboard and are following the same isolation instructions.”
Health officials listed a dozen flights as exposure events late Saturday, a possible indication that one or more of the flight crew was infected.
New Zealand has managed to stamp out or contain the virus for much of the pandemic, and has reported 52 Covid deaths among its population of 5 million. But an Omicron outbreak is starting to take hold and is expected to grow rapidly over the coming weeks.
About 77% of New Zealanders are fully vaccinated, according to Our World in Data. That figure rises to 93% among those aged 12 and over, according to New Zealand officials.
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