[ad_1]
A former Prime Minister of the Cook Islands, Joseph Williams, has died of coronavirus in Auckland, New Zealand’s health ministry said on Saturday, bringing the number of Covid-related deaths in the country to 24.
Williams, who was 82, was a well-known GP, politician and author, living in New Zealand. He was briefly Prime Minister of the Cook Islands in 1999 after serving as the South Pacific nation’s minister of health and education.
New Zealand Chief Health Officer Ashley Bloomfield said in a statement: “Dr. Williams was seen as a leading figure in the Cook Islands medical community and we will sadly miss him.”
Williams was admitted to Auckland City Hospital on August 13 amid concerns that he may have been in close contact with someone linked to the initial Auckland group. Williams’ Mt Wellington practice is not far from the Americold refrigeration store that was at the center of the most recent outbreak.
Vice Premier Winston Peters, for whose party Williams once ran, said he “left a serious mark on the communities he served. We will miss him very much in both New Zealand and the Cook Islands.
“Dr. Williams was a dedicated and passionate man. He was an enduring example of a Cook Islander who came to New Zealand for an education and then made a real difference in his chosen career. “
Cook Islands Prime Minister Henry Puna called Williams “a pioneer on many fronts and a man far beyond his time” and said a national memorial service would be organized in due course.
Dr. Kiki Maoate, his nephew and president of the Pasifika Medical Association, said: “Your love, generosity and kindness have touched so many families, friends and colleagues. He has left us all the gifts of his trip, and for that we will be eternally grateful. “
New Zealand Finance Minister Grant Robertson tweeted: “Dr. Joe was such an influential leader in the Cook Islands community and in the health sector in general. Deeply respected, my thoughts and aroha go out to his family, friends and community. “
New Zealand’s largest city, Auckland, has been subject to restrictions to combat the spread of the coronavirus since an outbreak last month. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern extended the alert level of 2.5 until at least mid-September on Friday after the country reported the Covid-19 death of a man in his 50s who worked at Americold.
Bloomfield said: “Today’s sad news once again reinforces the importance of our shared vigilance against Covid-19, the dire consequences that the virus can bring, and the steps we must all take to stop the spread, break any chain of transmission, and prevent deaths. “.
Reuters contributed to this article
[ad_2]
