New Zealand PM cancels her wedding amid new Omicron restrictions

Sydney, Jan 23 (BNA): New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Arden has canceled her wedding as the nation imposed new restrictions to slow the spread of the COVID-19 Omicron virus, she told reporters on Sunday.

New Zealand will impose mask rules and limit gathering from midnight Sunday after a cluster of nine COVID-19 Omicron cases showed communities spreading from the northern to southern islands after a wedding party.

A family flew back to Nelson on the South Island after attending a wedding and other events in Auckland on the North Island. The family and the hostess proved positive.

New Zealand will move to the red setting under the COVID-19 protection framework, with more masks to be worn. Indoor hospitality settings such as bars and restaurants and events such as weddings will be limited to 100 people. Reuters quoted Arden as saying that the cap would be reduced to 25 people if places were not using vaccine permits.

“My wedding will not go ahead,” she told reporters, adding that she regretted anyone who had fallen into the same scenario. Ardern has not revealed when her wedding will be, but it has been rumored to be imminent.

When asked by reporters how she felt about her wedding to longtime partner and hunting show host Clark Gifford being called off, Ardern replied, “That’s life.”

She added: “I am no different from, dare I say it, thousands of other New Zealanders who have suffered far more devastating effects felt by the pandemic, chief among them being unable to be with a loved one at times when they are seriously ill. This will outweigh Much sadness I feel.”

New Zealand’s borders have been closed to foreigners since March 2020. The government has postponed plans to reopen in phases from mid-January to the end of February due to concern over a possible outbreak of Omicron as in neighboring Australia.

People who are able to travel to New Zealand under narrow exceptions must apply to remain in state-run quarantine facilities. The government last week stopped issuing any new time slots amid an increase in the number of people arriving with Omicron.

About 94% of the New Zealand population over 12 years of age was fully vaccinated and about 56% of those eligible received a booster injection.

HF