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Covid in New Zealand: New Zealand reported 137 new cases on Monday. (To file)
Wellington:
The New Zealand government said on Monday it would not call for UK DJ Dimension to be prosecuted for breaking Covid isolation rules and creating an infection alert at Omicron.
The electronic music artist, real name Robert Etheridge, said he misunderstood the rules when mixing with people before getting a negative final test result.
“The Ministry of Health does not plan to refer this matter to the police at this stage,” the ministry said in a statement.
“The ministry must balance the deterrent effect of any potential prosecution with creating an environment that does not deter future cases from helping the public health response to COVID-19,†he said.
Etheridge said Thursday he was “devastated” to find he had tested positive for Omicron after coming out of 10 days in isolation including three days at his residence.
The DJ would not have waited for a negative result from his last test performed on the ninth day of isolation, as required, before going out into the community. He landed in New Zealand on December 16.
“Much to my shock and concern, I unexpectedly received a positive test on the twelfth day, two days after my period of isolation ended,†he said on his Instagram page.
Etheridge said he had received “numerous hateful and abusive comments” following media reports of the incident.
“I would like to reiterate my apologies to those whom I have inadvertently endangered due to my misunderstandings.”
No case of Omicron linked to Etheridge’s release has been reported, according to New Zealand media.
Etheridge has pulled out of a scheduled appearance at a three-day music festival, Rhythm and Alps, which was held December 29-31 on New Zealand’s South Island.
New Zealand, which has strict quarantine rules for international arrivals, reported 137 new Covid infections on Monday for a total of 13,883 since the start of the pandemic, with the death toll unchanged at 51.
(This story was not edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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