Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern Says Trust Only Ministers With ‘Meaningful’ Covid Updates

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says that only ministers should be trusted to deliver “meaningful” Covid-19 updates, not on the Health Ministry website.

This comes after the Ministry of Health incorrectly advised everyone in West and South Auckland to get tested for Covid-19, even if they had no symptoms.

That tip was removed three days after Ardern said the information was incorrect.

Speaking to the Auckland media this afternoon, Ardern distanced himself – and his ministers – from that message, which he said was released by officials.

He said that if that was the government’s message, it would be something that would be announced “directly.”

“I can assure you that if we did something as significant as asking hundreds of thousands of people to get tested … we would not leave such a meaningful message like that on a website, on a Twitter or Instagram account.”

When asked if that included the website of the Ministry of Health, he doubled: “or from a website.”

“You will continue to receive consistent messages from us,” he said, meaning “us,” meaning his ministers or Health Director General Ashley Bloomfield.

Ardern also said he had moved “very quickly” to correct the information.

He said he learned of a social media post from Unite Against Covid-19 reporting the mass testing on Sunday morning at 10 a.m.

Ardern told officials to fix it, but the post remained active until about 1.30pm that afternoon.

But the incorrect information was first published in an email from Unite Against Covid-19 on Wednesday night.

That message was repeated on Friday, this time on the website of the Ministry of Health.

“If you are in the south or west of Auckland, or if you have a higher risk of health problems if you contract Covid-19, even if you have no symptoms, get tested.”
according to an archived web page.

It has since been removed from the ministry’s website.