New Zealand PM Jacinda Arden postpones her wedding ceremony amid Omicron

Wellington, New Zealand: The contagious COVID-19 virus impacted the longing for wedding celebrations for thousands of individuals across the world. New Zealand’s Prime Minister, Jacinda Arden, postponed her wedding following the establishment of new COVID-19 protocols and measures put in place to curb the infection rate.  

The COVID-19 protocols have been made more stringent after a community spread of the viral disease from North to South islands was witnessed following the reporting of a novel coronavirus cluster. 

The positive cases were reported among family members who returned to Nelson in the South Island via plane after attending wedding events in Auckland (North Island). Along with the family members, a flight attendant also tested positive for the COVID-19.  

PM Arden cited, “My wedding will not be going ahead. I am not any different to, dare I say it, thousands of other New Zealanders who have had much more devastating consequences felt by the pandemic, the most gutting of which is the inability to be with a loved one sometimes when they are gravely ill. That will far, far outstrip any sadness I experience”.  

Although, the wedding date has not been yet announced by the prime minister. 

According to the new guidelines, from Sunday, limit gatherings and the mandatory mask-wearing measure has been imposed in the country. The seating capacity in bars, wedding functions and as well as restaurants have been reduced to 25 to 100.  

In terms of vaccination, there are a total of 3,995,827 individuals who are partially vaccinated while receiving their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. This counts for 78.6% of the total adult population. 

On the other hand, 3,910,251 persons (76.9%) are fully immunised against the contagious COVID-19, while around 19.9% that is a total of 1,011,366, of the eligible population of the country, have received their booster shots.