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New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern
Photo: POOL New / REUTERS
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says she is struggling with a loss of taste after contracting Covid 19.
However, their official business is apparently not affected: Ardern took part in the traditional breakfast with Finance Minister Grant Robertson on the occasion of the publication of the New Zealand state budget this year via Instagram live stream.
After announcing her Covid illness, Ardern expressed disappointment at missing the budget announcement, one of the most important political dates in New Zealand.
But she had already announced that she would take part in the meetings from the home office.
"I didn't want to let Covid get in the way of this tradition," she said on Instagram.
Ardern tested positive on Saturday.
Among other things, the new budget provides a billion dollars to counter rising living costs, which also affect people in New Zealand.
11.1 billion dollars will be raised for health care reform and the fight against the climate crisis.
Although Ardern was absent from the budget announcement in the New Zealand Parliament, she joined in virtually.
Problems with the cheese rolls
The problems were apparently limited to the fact that Ardern could not taste the traditional cheese rolls at the virtual breakfast with Robertson because of her Covid infection.
On Budget Day, Finance Minister and Prime Minister typically share the specialty from New Zealand's South Island.
Ardern said the cheese rolls lacked the usual flavor notes.
The toasted and rolled wheat bread, topped with cheddar among other things, was delivered to the Prime Minister's home.
Ardern joked on Instagram that she forgot the cheese rolls in the oven, which made them "a little beige".
New Zealand's Covid rules require Ardern to isolate at home until May 21.
A trip to the USA planned for the end of May was not initially canceled.
New Zealand, with its five million inhabitants, has long been considered a model country in the corona crisis.
The island state had largely sealed itself off from the outside world in March 2020.
The country has now recorded more than a million cases because of the highly contagious omicron variant.
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