Did the PM breach social distancing in HB?
The Prime Minister has spoken out about accusations of hypocrisy over her lack of social distancing while posing with well-wishers in Hawke’s Bay.
Police refused yesterday to say whether Jacinda Ardern or director general of health Ashley Bloomfield, who was photographed with restaurant staff after a meal in Wellington, will be warned over breaching level 2 rules.
Northland MP Matt King faced criticism after a similar photograph emerged of him with restaurant staff after a meal out when the country shifted to level 2.
At the time, the Ministry of Health put out a statement telling people to “maintain a 1-metre distance from people they don’t know or wouldn’t normally come into close contact with, where contact tracing is available”.
In cases where there was no contact tracing — such as well-wishers greeting Ardern on the street — a 2-metre distance should be observed.
Ardern, who was photographed multiple times in Napier’s CBD over Queen’s Birthday weekend, said she tried to remind people to keep their distance but it was not always possible. “I have had situations where people have moved into photos with me closer than I would have liked. But I will continue to advocate for social distancing and I will continue to do my best in those situations to step away from people.”
And Bloomfield said he was following his own rules.
“I could say that by the end of the dinner these people were no longer strangers but it was very fleeting.”
He said the restaurant had used all the right processes, including signing customers in and out, and he was asked to “very momentarily participate in a photograph”.
National leader Todd Muller said he had experienced similar difficulty over the weekend when visiting a mall and being approached by wellwishers. “The point has been made. They are the ones who set the rules and ideally they should set a perfect example but in this environment perfect is difficult.
“I think it is disappointing but the greater issue for me is we should move to level 1 today.”
Deputy PM Winston Peters said: “We all get caught in circumstances where someone gets too close for a photograph.”
King yesterday made the claim of hypocrisy in relation to receiving a police phone call over the photograph of him with restaurant staff, asking whether police would also be speaking to Ardern and Bloomfield.
Police refused to say whether complaints had been lodged against Ardern or Bloomfield, or whether they would be spoken to. Police said they would not make comment for privacy reasons.