Coronavirus live news: New Zealand health minister quits, as WHO says Middle East at ‘critical’ point
- Date: 02-Jul-2020
- Source: The Guardian
- Sector:Healthcare
- Country:GCC
Coronavirus live news: New Zealand health minister quits, as WHO says Middle East at ‘critical’ point
8.02pm EDT20:02
David Clark will be replaced by New Zealand's education minister Chris Hipkins until the election, prime minister Ardern said in a statement.
"Post-election I intend to reassess who is best placed to take the health portfolio forward.“
New Zealand goes to the polls in September. Ardern said she has not closed the door to Clark coming back into cabinet, but it won't be in a health role.
New Zealand has recorded 1528 cases of Covid-19, with 22 deaths.
7.54pm EDT19:54
New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern is hosting a press conference, formalising the resignation of her health minister David Clark.
She said in some "very frank conversations“ within government, the minister had come to the view that his continuing in the role was a distraction for the government's efforts to combat the coronavirus pandemic.
New Zealand did get the number of live Covid-19 cases down to zero, but it has since gone back up through imported cases into the country.
"It's not done,“ Ardern said. "Covid-19 will be with us for a long time to come.“
She said while it was Clark's decision to resign, "it is one I agree with“.
7.45pm EDT19:45
Despite the WHO'S dire warning of the Middle East's "critical threshold“, Egypt has restarted international flights