New Zealand’s Prime Minister has come under fire for taking a selfie with a bunch of fans without keeping social distancing at the forefront.
Jacinda Ardern is no stranger to the selfie and regularly snaps pictures with her supporters wherever she goes.
However, due to the coronavirus pandemic still lingering in the country, the PM has apologised for dropping the ball just a bit.
When she was touring Palmerston North, people asked if she would get in a photo with her. Someone taking a photo of the moment showed that Ms Ardern didn’t take the necessary steps to keep everyone at least 1.5 metres away.
Hospitality businesses can’t make money at Level 2 because of single server and social distancing rules. Meanwhile, the person responsible for the rules is self-serving and not social distancing. pic.twitter.com/4HUMKJNkU4
– David Seymour (@dbseymour) September 18, 2020
After copping some backlash, the Prime Minister has apologised.
“In that particular photo I made a mistake,” she said. “Yes I should have moved further forwards and I should have asked them to step apart as well.
“It is hard. I will keep up, as I have, those awkward moments where I refuse to shake hands.”
National leader Judith Collins says she was ‘staggered’ to see the photo do the rounds on social media and believes the Prime Minister needs to be setting an example of how to conduct oneself in public.
The criticism was harsh on Jacinda Ardern because Palmerston North was in Alert Level 2 at the time, which requires people to remain distanced from one another.
Credit: PA
Ms Collins said during a press conference: “I was staggered to see the Prime Minister clearly not socially distancing with no mask just the other day in Palmerston North in a level 2 lockdown. Clearly she has no concern about it.”
Act leader David Seymour also pounced on the opportunity to criticise his opponent by saying: “Hospitality businesses are going broke at alert level 2 because of a single server and social distance rules.
“Meanwhile, the person responsible for the rules is breaking them – small business owners will be angry.”
Lockdown restrictions have been rolled back for everyone in New Zealand, except for those in Auckland, where an outbreak sparked a small second wave of coronavirus infections.
Residents are now able to meet and move freely, with group gatherings originally increasing from 10 people to 100, but the new announcement means there is no longer a limit.As well as having limitless gatherings, residents outside Auckland will also be able to use public transport without having to wear a mask.
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