We get it, the ‘lockdown’ can drive us all a little crazy. We know we have to stay home but the allure of the outdoor can be so tempting amidst the coronavirus outbreak.
Apparently even New Zealand‘s Health Minister can’t resist its charms.
New Zealand Health Minister Broke Lockdown Rules But Can Still Stay on His Job
According to The Straits Times, New Zealand’s health minister described himself as “an idiot” on Tuesday after he broke lockdown restrictions.
The health minister, who’s supposed to give health advisories like staying home during the coronavirus outbreak is breaking the rules?
Blasphemy.
Fortunately for him though, he will be keeping his job of coordinating New Zealand’s fight against the coronavirus.
That happened even though Health Minister David Clark had reportedly offered his resignation to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.
But it seems that his ‘crimes’ were much more innocent than it seems.
He had taken a 20-kilometre drive to bring his family to the beach.
Admitted He Should’ve Been Setting An Example
However, Dr Clark acknowledged that his trip to the beach was clearly wrong, amidst New Zealand’s lockdown rules that urge families to stay close to home.
Furthermore, he admitted that his position as a health minister meant that he should’ve been setting an example.
In a statement, he said, “At a time when we are asking New Zealanders to make historic sacrifices, I’ve let the team down.”
He also called himself “an idiot”.
“I’ve been an idiot and I understand why people will be angry with me.”
He Would’ve Been Fired Under Normal Circumstances
Ms Ardern said that if the world wasn’t as it is with the coronavirus outbreak, she would’ve sacked him.
Fortunately for him, she only stripped him of the junior role of associated finance minister and demoted him in the Cabinet rankings.
“What he did was wrong, and there are no excuses,” she said.
“But right now, my priority is our collective fight against Covid-19. We cannot afford massive disruption in the health sector or to our response. For that reason, and that reason alone, Dr Clark will maintain his role.”
Scotland’s chief medical officer Catherine Calderwood wasn’t quite as lucky. She resigned on Sunday after failing to abide by the rules not once but twice.
She had visited her second home twice although she fronted an ad campaign calling for Scots to stay at home.
As of 7 April, there are a total of 1160 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in New Zealand.
A total of 241 people have made a full recovery.
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