It was Sunday that the words went viral for New Zealand’s Corona Minister Chris Hipkins. When he was to give the nation with just under five million inhabitants an update on the infection situation, he made a mistake:
At the same time as he said that the infection in the country is rising, he asked New Zealanders to follow measures when they are out and “spreading their legs”.
“It is a challenge for people in densely populated areas to get out and spread their legs when they are surrounded by other people,” Hipkins said. The Guardian.
The statement made Health Director Ashley Bloomfield, also present at the press conference, raise her eyebrows. Hipkins himself took it all in with a smile, and said he was going out and about extend on the legs.
He was also fully aware that this was going to be a thing in the media. Unexpectedly, there was also a big talk on social media. New Zealand Herald writes that people have already made coffee cups adorned with the quote.
New Zealand is currently in lockdown after a large increase in infection due to the spread of the delta variant.
Nearly 10,000 of the country’s five million inhabitants are now being tested. It is unknown at this time what he will do after leaving the post.
– The Delta variant gives us some completely different challenges. It is unparalleled compared to what we have dealt with during the pandemic so far. We need to look at how we can deal with this. At some point, we have to start opening up, says Hipkins during the TV show Q + A.
The Minister further says that the rapid spread of the delta variant means that the country must look more closely at how they can attack the infection situation internally in the country – not just continue the strict border management and entry restrictions.
–
