New Zealand's health minister David Clark called himself "an idiot" after he violated the lockdown restrictions. Nonetheless he has not lost his job as he coordinates the country's response to the coronavirus pandemic.?
David Clark said he offered to resign to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. He revealed taking a 20 km drive to the beach along with family.?
He admitted what he did was wrong and knew he should have set an example.?
"At a time when we are asking New Zealanders to make historic sacrifices, I've let the team down," he said in a statement, as per a report in AFP.?
"I've been an idiot and I understand why people will be angry with me," he added.?
Ardern said that she would have normally sacked him but decided to demote him in the cabinet rankings instead.?
"What he did was wrong, and there are no excuses," she said.?
"But right now, my priority is our collective fight against COVID-19. We cannot afford massive disruption in the health sector or to our response. For that reason, and that reason alone, Dr. Clark will maintain his role," she added.?
Nearly 75,000 people have died due to the pandemic and over 1300,000 are currently affected all over the world.??