Viral Advice Minister For Seniors Speaks - ‘Be Careful, Not Fearful'

Tracey’s positive words in a trying time

- Julie Jacobson

Be careful, not fearful. That’s the advice from Minister for Seniors Tracey Martin, one of several MPs caught up in the fallout of COVID-19.

After being alerted to the news that Australian Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton had tested positive for the coronavirus on March 13, she immediately self-isolated. At the time of print, other Kiwi MPs had also been forced to stay at home following trips offshore, including local government minister Nanaia Mahuta, Green MP Chlöe Swarbrick and National’s Chris Bishop.

Tracey had been seated next to Mr Dutton at a meeting in Washington DC on March 6. After hearing of Mr Dutton’s diagnosis a week later she spoke to Health Minister David Clark and discussed symptoms she should be aware of, the necessity to minimise contact in the first instance and how best to seek medical advice.

The following morning she contacted her GP and was advised by Regional Public Health that she was outside the period of concern.

“Medical advice is you should only be concerned if you have been in contact with a person 48 hours before they started showing symptoms. I was in the vicinity of Mr Dutton on March 6, on that day only.”

Despite that and having no symptoms she decided to self-isolate, as a precaution.