Emotions ran high for Ann Robbie at the weekend when she received two community service awards within 24 hours of being released from Dunedin Hospital.
In fact, Bloomfield was in Invercargill watching his son compete at the pipe band championships, held on the Friday and Saturday. Copeland recalls extending his hand for a handshake, only for Bloomfield to say he would prefer not to. It was day two of the championships, the enormity of the Covid-19 situation, at that moment, had started to sink in for Bloomfield.
Ross Giblin
Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield was in Invercargill 12 months ago when the seriousness of Covid-19 situation became reality. Bloomfield introduced himself as the Director-General of Health. He told Copeland the pipe band championship organising team was doing a good job, but he asked that they spread the teams out a bit more. He also asked that handshaking be discouraged at the prize giving later that day.