COVID digest: New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern tests positive

Wellington, May 15: New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has tested positive for COVID-19, her office announced in a statement on Saturday.

Ardern had been in isolation since May 8, when her partner Clarke Gayford tested positive.

The prime minister — who was due to resume her parliamentary duties on Monday — would now be required to isolate until the morning of May 21, undertaking what duties she can remotely.

"Despite best efforts, unfortunately I've joined the rest of my family and have tested positive for COVID 19," Ardern said in a post on Instagram.

Ardern's positive test comes after she announced Wednesday that New Zealand will fully reopen to the world in August, ending one of the strictest coronavirus border curbs.

The country had enforced one of the world's toughest measures to manage the COVID-19 outbreak when the pandemic began in 2020.

Deaths from COVID-19 in New Zealand have remained among the lowest in developed nations, with a national death toll of 892.

The country, however, witnessed an omicron flare-up since restrictions were relaxed in March.

Ardern's positive case is among more than 50,000 infections reported over the last week.

Here"s the latest on the COVID-19 pandemic from other parts of the world:

Europe

Germany's Health Minister Karl Lauterbach has cautioned of a return of the delta variant of the coronavirus.

"The pandemic is not over yet. An omicron wave in the fall is indeed likely. But even the more dangerous delta variant could return," Lauterbach told the Düsseldorf-based Rheinische Post newspaper on Saturday, referring to a study from Israel.

He also announced the procurement of different vaccines.

Lauterbach said Germany should be prepared for the return of both omicron and delta variants.

"We need vaccine against both variants. It will be very expensive. But another missed fall would be unaffordable for the economy," the health minister said.

Asia

North Korea on Saturday announced 21 new "fever" deaths as it tackles a COVID-19 spread among its unvaccinated population.

North Korea's KCNA state media reported that 174,440 new cases of the fever were discovered on Friday.

The media outlet didn't say how many of the fever cases and deaths were confirmed as COVID-19 infections.

The new figures come two days after the country confirmed its first-ever cases of COVID-19.

In China, Shanghai on Saturday was tightening its COVID-19 lockdown for what could be the city's final week of its battle with the virus before restrictions gradually begin to ease.

The commercial hub, which is home to around 25 million people, has been under a tough lockdown for the last six weeks.

Meanwhile, the capital Beijing is tackling a much smaller but continuing spread.

Source: DW