Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has returned a negative COVID-19 test result after she was deemed a close contact and had to self-isolate.
"The Prime Minister has returned a negative COVID-19 test. In line with Ministry of Health guidance she is required to continue isolating until the end of Tuesday, February 1, or as otherwise advised by Public Health," a spokesperson said on Monday.
"She will chair tomorrow's Cabinet meeting remotely. As the Prime Minister is not be able to be in the Beehive in person tomorrow, the Deputy Prime Minister [Grant Robertson] will attend post-Cab on her behalf."
Ardern entered self-isolation on Saturday after being informed she was a close contact of a positive COVID-19 case understood to have the Omicron variant.
The exposure event took place a week prior on January 22 on flight NZ8273 from Kerikeri to Auckland. Flight NZ8273 was added to the Ministry of Health website as a location of interest on Saturday evening.
All other passengers on board flight NZ8273, including Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro, were also deemed close contacts and were required to self-isolate, get tested immediately and remain in isolation for 10 days following their exposure.
The Prime Minister and Governor-General were in Northland undertaking advance filming at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, at the invitation of the Waitangi National Trust for the Waitangi Day broadcast on Three this weekend.
A spokesperson for Ardern on Saturday said she was asymptomatic and feeling well.
In line with Ministry of Health advice she was tested immediately and had to be isolated until Tuesday - 10 days since the exposure event.
Ardern's chief press secretary Andrew Campbell has also tested negative.
