NZ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern tests negative after COVID scare

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern tested negative for COVID-19 after learning she was a close contact of a person on board her flight. The incident prompted the official to go into self-isolation.

Prior to the COVID scare, Ardern had completed her vaccination and received her booster shot in mid-January. She is said to be feeling healthy.

Despite testing negative, the Prime Minister will finish her isolation on Tuesday and preside over Cabinet meetings remotely, representatives said.

A COVID-positive passenger had purportedly been on flight NZ8273, from Kerikeri to Auckland, on 22 January where the passenger supposedly came into contact with the Prime Minister.

Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro and a member of the Prime Minister's staff were also on the same flight. Both tested negative for the virus.