Covid 19 coronavirus: Ashley Bloomfield on life in the public eye

Dr. Ashley Bloomfield has spoken out about the personal toll the pandemic has taken on him, revealing his “moments of great doubt and anxiety.”

Bloomfield made the confession during a webinar last week with the Graeme Dingle Foundation, detailing how he deals with pressure around daily updates on NZ’s fight against Covid-19.

“I know when I have [an upcoming press conference] because at 10 in the morning, I can feel my cortisol levels rise and I’m focused. I probably won’t have much fun being at work, just because I’m focused and thinking about what’s coming up, “he said.

“In this position, and I’m quite open about it with my staff, I have moments of great doubt and anxiety, and I love the days when I have nothing to do.”

Bloomfield credited his staff with helping him prepare to face the media, but said being honest with yourself was key.

“We all have limitations. None of us can go through with it. We have to be able to accept the things that we can’t control, and I think about this 15 percent rule.”

Bloomfield explained the theory as that people only have control over 15 percent of what happens to them.

“Of course the best you can do is maximize that 15 percent and also work with others, and collectively you can get a much greater degree of control over a situation and a good outcome,” he said.

Before the threat of the global coronavirus pandemic, most New Zealanders had not heard of Dr. Ashley Bloomfield, Chief Health Officer.

Since rising to fame for her daily appearances at 1pm, Bloomfield has gained legions of fans for her cool and serene delivery.

They call themselves “Bloomers” and range from meek and chaste admirers of their prowess at press conferences to fanatical fanatics looking to relax those social distancing rules.

But not everything has been easy. The health chief came under heavy criticism for providing incorrect details about Covid patients and for repeatedly clashing with the media.

Last month, Bloomfield said a positive case visited Pak’nSave Glen Innes multiple times between July 31 and August 8, sometimes for up to an hour.

However, it was later revealed that the case attended Glen Innes supermarket once on August 12 for about an hour.

Bloomfield apologized to Foodstuffs for their mistake.