Those protesting at Parliament are increasingly reporting symptoms of illness and linking it to a conspiracy theory that the Government is making them sick with a radiation weapon. Video / Twitter / Telegram
Those protesting at Parliament are increasingly reporting symptoms of illness and linking it to a conspiracy theory that the Government is making them sick with a radiation weapon.
The theory has gained so much traction in the protest crowd that one of the leading organisers, Leighton Baker, posted a social media video trying to debunk it even as some believers began wearing tinfoil hats for protection.
Baker told the Herald he posted the video to assure people they were not suffering ill-effects as a result of a radiation weapon.
Instead, he said it was the consequence of people camping around Parliament and "just the constant bombardment surrounded by cell phones, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth" at a higher rate than that to which they were accustomed.
Baker, who was New Conservatives leader from 2017 to 2020, said he believed the symptoms people were reporting would not be Covid-19 symptoms, although accepted the disease and the virus that carried it might be present among protesters.
"I haven't seen a lot of people walking around sick. There could be but it's not like I'm seeing a lot of disease walking around."
And if there was, Baker said the campaign for "freedom" included people's right to circulate in public when they had contracted Covid-19 and were contagious.
"If you think you have Covid you should stay home. If you want to go out, that's your choice. They still get to choose. We want people to be able to choose rather than say we're going to lock you up if you don't [comply]. I believe in free choice."
Baker said he believed the latest variant was nothing worse than a mild flu and disputed the veracity of data showing five people had died in the current outbreak.
There is currently a photograph of a number of people at the protest in Wellington wearing tinfoil hats. While in keeping with the commentary from some protesters, it is unknown whether those in the tinfoil hats are serious or performing a parody of sorts.
Baker said he had not seen people wearing tinfoil hats and believed all that was required to deal with people's reported symptoms was to drink water and to remove shoes to reconnect through feet to the earth.
People are seen wearing hats made of tinfoil at the Parliament protest after the rise of a theory that sickness was because of the Government using radiation as a weapon. Photo / Supplied
Regional medical officer of health Dr Craig Thornley said there were "several positive cases of Covid-19" linked to the protest, which had been listed as a location of interest.
"As protesters come to Wellington from across New Zealand, a cluster identification process has been established within the National Contact Tracing System so that we can look to monitor the number of positive cases linked to the protest."
Thornley said it was expected to be difficult to build an accurate data picture of positive cases linked to the protest site "as we anticipate reluctance from some protesters [towards] being tested".
He said health officials continued to search for ways to improve testing in "high-risk communities" to try to gather information that would reduce the impact of Covid-19 on the health system.
In the past few days, coughing and wheezing has become a common feature on livestreams from the protest site. It has also seen those protesting turn to social media to ask for somewhere to stay after becoming ill.
One woman asked: "I have a fever and a sore throat and would so appreciate a bed for the night." In response, another woman said: "Many are suffering from EMF effects down there and many who came home too but they don't have sore throat or cough, just vomiting, severe body pains and headaches."
One protester in a Telegram channel has posted a video in which an "expert" uses a device to apparently measure electromagnetic fields coming from the concrete blocks police have used to contain the device.
"There is something in this block that is emitting electromagnetic radiation."
There is also a letter circulating which is addressed to St Paul's Cathedral, which neighbours Parliament, accusing it of secretly harbouring "surveillance and other technology" and demanding it be removed.
#Convoy2022nz#convoynz2022 Jae Ratana serving a notice letting Wellington cathedral know he and his mates intend to search the place for LRAD and radiation weapons they believe are causing covid like symptoms and bad moods. #Heaheapic.twitter.com/waECj8r7ql
A video circulating on social media shows a woman from the protest saying people were developing headaches and had starting using earplugs and foil-lined fire blankets to keep themselves well.
The woman then says: "This is so funny. People are actually making tinfoil hats. Isn't that funny? But they work apparently."
The occupiers at Parliament are dealing with a wave of illness they believe to be caused by EMF weapons. One says they are now making literal tin foil hats to protect themselves. pic.twitter.com/QdAiSI9Tec
The expert then talked about testing he had done in the area, saying, "I've not found any anomalies after measuring this site a number of times."
Baker's expert then went on to say people were experiencing the symptoms of microwave sickness "but in a very condensed period of time". Baker's expert then said the clustering of people camping together meant they were exposed to higher levels of microwave radiation.
Leighton Baker's expert, who says radiation levels aren't abnormal and suggests people drink water and walk barefoot. Photo / Supplied
Baker said: "I'm fully aware a lot of people are feeling a bit stressed about it, anxious and feeling a bit funny."
The expert, who was called Andy, said people should drink water - "our blood is 93 per cent water" - to create a Faraday cage-style barrier to radiation.
"Another good thing to do is just ground yourself in bare feet ... so your body can get back in tune."
Baker also suggested those feeling ill should go to the beach and have a swim.
Public health officials in Wellington had set up a "cluster identification" system to track positive Covid-19 cases from the protest.
A community testing centre is operating at 196-200 Taranaki St, which was open from 10am to 4pm, seven days a week, for people with symptoms or those who were household contacts.
If people needed advice on symptoms or how to seek care they should call Healthline on 0800 358 5453.
