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.