Covid 19 coronavirus: Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on new cases of Defense workers

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will address the media this afternoon and is expected to be pressured on the latest Covid-19 developments.

There are four new Covid-19 cases to report today, all imported cases in managed isolation facilities and no more community cases.

But a person who was a casual contact of a positive case on a flight from Auckland to Wellington began to feel unwell and is awaiting test results later today.

Ardern is also expected to reveal details about his government’s small business agenda.

Speaking to a business audience last week, the Prime Minister said the expansion of the small business loan scheme and the launch of the flexible wage subsidy program were high on the government’s to-do list before Christmas.

Both were Labor pre-election policies.

The small business loan scheme has been adopted by more than a quarter of New Zealand businesses.

It entitles eligible businesses to a loan of $ 10,000, plus an additional $ 1,800 per full-time employee. The loan is interest free if it is paid back within a year, and 3 percent per year every year thereafter.

Applications for this scheme were due to close on December 31 this year, but Labor promised to extend it for another three years.

Ardern is also expected to reveal some details about a number of projects that will be accelerated, under the Resource Development Act, for development.

Covid-19 will also be a key part of your press conference.

Meanwhile, Ardern will likely be asked about the US presidential election as well, specifically whether Donald Trump should admit defeat.

On Saturday he congratulated President-elect Joe Biden and Kamala Harris on their election victory, in addition to recognizing outgoing President Trump.

“New Zealand has enjoyed positive and cooperative relations with the United States during the Trump Administration, especially in the Indo-Pacific and Pacific Islands regions.”