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Home / Lifestyle

Covid 19 coronavirus: The rise of Ashley Bloomfield as a social media hero

NZ Herald
31 Mar, 2020 08:46 PM2 mins to read

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Mike Hosking talks to Chief executive of the New Zealand Ministry of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield on how the lockdown may have affected the spread of Covid-19.

Before the threat of the global coronavirus pandemic gripped New Zealand, most of us hadn't heard of Dr Ashley Bloomfield, Director-General of Health.

Folks, we were missing out.

It has been said that "cometh the hour, cometh the man" and that has been proven true by the sparkling performance of the bespectacled doctor from Wellington.

But in the age of social media it equally true that "cometh the man, cometh the fans".

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And come they have, flooding Twitter to reveal themselves as devoted followers of the man guiding our response to this historic emergency.

They call themselves "Bloomers" and run the gamut from tame, chaste admirers of his press conference prowess to hot-blooded groupies just itching for those social distancing rules to be relaxed

READ MORE:
• Covid 19 coronavirus: Ashley Bloomfield is finally having a day off
• 76 new coronavirus cases in NZ - Ashley Bloomfield and Mike Bush give update on coronavirus
• Covid 19 coronavirus: One Northland case recovers as another is discharged from hospital

Bloomfield is being compared to Chuck Norris (sorry, Norris is being compared to Bloomfield).

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Dr Ashley Bloomfield doesn't take extra vitamins. Vitamins take Ashley Bloomfield. pic.twitter.com/wEQc1wP9Kd

— Patrick Morgan (@patrickmorgan) March 31, 2020
NeedToKnow3
NeedToKnow3

Bloomfield describes himself on Twitter as a "Public health doctor" and "founding member of the Wellington Menace mountain biking group". His account has been gaining hundreds of followers with every presser.

There are calls for knighthoods, New Zealander of the Year and every other award and recognition under the sun.

Wondering if Dr Ashley Bloomfield will deliver the Queen's speech on Christmas Day to NZ this year? pic.twitter.com/ubdcqrhjCW

— Darren Bevan (@geekboy73) March 31, 2020

How impressive has Dr Ashley Bloomfield been through this whole lockdown. What a massive task to be watching over. Knight the guy when we see the end of this. #Respect

— Paul Ardern (@PArdern) March 31, 2020

Bloomfield probably doesn't have time to check social media these days but will get a pleasant surprise when he does.

United we stand, and united we stan him.

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• Covid19.govt.nz: The Government's official Covid-19 advisory website

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