National MP self-isolates
National MP Chris Bishop has entered self-isolation as a precaution after a trip to Australia.
The Hutt South MP said he called Healthline after returning from Australia on Saturday night, and was advised he should consider selfisolating.
‘‘Although there’s no legal obligation for me to go into self-isolation . . . I asked them and they said, ‘There’s no legal obligation but we would prefer that you did’,’’ he said in a video posted to his Facebook.
‘‘I am doing that for the next 14 days.’’
On Saturday, Ardern announced everyone arriving in New Zealand would have to self-isolate themselves for 14 days, beginning midnight yesterday. The deadline was later changed to 1am today.
Bishop said he would not be at Parliament for the next two weeks, and would deal with constituent matters over the phone.
He would also miss a number of local events, such as the Korokoro School Gala.
‘‘I’m fine, I’ve got no symptoms of coronavirus at all, but look I’m just following the advice of the authorities and going into selfisolation, he said.
Bishop was not the only MP to announce he was entering self-isolation yesterday.
Green Party MP Chlo¨ e Swarbrick said she was in Australia and would follow the requirement upon returning to New Zealand.
Bishop’s National Party colleague, Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi, would enter self-isolation upon returning from a trip to India, a party spokesman confirmed.
NZ First MP Tracey Martin has entered self-isolation until Friday, after meeting Australian Cabinet Minister Peter Dutton in the United States a week ago.
Dutton confirmed on Friday night he had tested positive for coronavirus.