Bledisloe Cup Rugby: Ashley Bloomfield warns All Blacks fans to give away their tickets if they feel sick

Chief Health Officer Dr. Ashley Bloomfield will be one of 30,000 fans heading to the Bledisloe Cup event between the All Blacks and Wallabies in Wellington on Sunday, but has warned those who are not feeling well to stay stay at home.

“If you have symptoms, I know it can be a pain, but please give away your ticket to the Bledisloe Cup match,” he said at yesterday’s press conference.

“I don’t need it because I have managed to secure a not very good seat, but let’s not give away these winnings. Don’t go if you are not feeling well and if you are not feeling well get tested.”

Bloomfield had two other messages for rugby fans heading to Sky Stadium on the weekend: first, “enjoy it,” second, “scan.”

“The reason we can do this, the reason we can play these two Bledisloe Cup events this weekend and the following weekend in Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland) is because of the work we have done; it’s great be in this position. “

When asked if fans should wear masks, Bloomfied didn’t say they should, but said that everyone should “be sensible.”

“One of the things we do know, there is a very good research done in Japan on this, is that the risks of spread, particularly in the community if there is Covid-19, are in places that are closed, that is, indoors. [that are] crowded and where there is close contact. We now have two out of three of those this weekend, but people are outdoors so the risk is much lower. And we are very confident that if people have symptoms and are tested right now, we are confident that we have no community transmission, “he said.

“I know it will take an extra effort to have a hand sanitizer, so be sensible.”

Bloomfield is an avowed rugby fan and played for the Centurions XV in July when they beat the New Zealand Parliament rugby team, where he scored a try.

Thanks to the move to alert Level 1 this week, Bledisloe’s second crash at Eden Park next weekend will also be able to go ahead with fans, where Bloomfield’s advice will likely be the same.

As for who will cheer on Sunday, Bloomfield said: “That’s a little bit, isn’t it? I’ll cheer on the All Blacks, in case there’s any doubt.”