Introduction – April 7, 2020

Days after Scotland Health Secretary was caught breaking the Corona virus lockdown, New Zealand’s health minister has also been caught ignoring the guidelines laid out by his ministry.

On the face of it, both Scottish health secretary Dr Catherine Calderwood and her New Zealand counterpart, Dr David Clark, should have known better. So what does this say about the magnitude of the health threat posed by coronavirus?

When the two leading health care ministers in Scotland and New Zealand act in clear violation of official advice on coronavirus you have to wonder, is it quite the threat we are being led to believe? Clearly Dr David Clark and Dr Catherine Calderwood don’t seem to think so.

Yet it can be guaranteed that no one in the corporate media will raise any questions about the advice we are being given on coronavirus. Or how the actions of leading healthcare administrators in Scotland and New Zealand calls it into question. Ed.

New Zealand health minister demoted after beach visit broke lockdown rules

Eleanor Ainge Roy – The Guardian April 7, 2020

New Zealand’s health minister has been demoted after he ignored national lockdown rules and drove his family to a beach 20km from his home.

Last week Dr David Clark was photographed going for a mountain bike ride 2km away from his Dunedin home. He apologised for the incident, saying it showed poor judgment at a time when all New Zealanders were being urged to stay at home and only exercise in their local area.

Now Clark has revealed a further indiscretion, calling himself an “idiot” for deciding to drive his family 20km to the Doctor’s Point beach on the first weekend of lockdown.

Lockdown rules state cars should only be used to purchase essential supplies such as food or medicine, and exercise should be taken in the local area only.

Clark said the revelation came about as part of his preparation for appearing in front of the epidemic response committee on Tuesday, requiring him to provide prime minister Jacinda Ardern “with a complete picture of my activity outside my home during alert level 4”.

Clark said the beach trip during level 4 lockdown was a clear breach, and he had offered his resignation to Ardern – who had not accepted it.

“At a time when we are asking New Zealanders to make historic sacrifices I’ve let the team down. I’ve been an idiot, and I understand why people will be angry with me,” Clark said in a statement.

“As the health minister, it’s my responsibility to not only follow the rules but set an example to other New Zealanders … I’ve apologised to the prime minister for my lack of judgement and offered her my resignation.

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