Coronavirus live news: New Zealand health minister quits, as WHO says Middle East at ‘critical’ point

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