The Ministry of Health has confirmed one new managed isolation-related case of COVID-19 in the community.
The case is a staff member working in a managed isolation facility in Christchurch where the international mariners are in quarantine.
Newshub understands it is the Sudima Christchurch Airport isolation facility, however the Ministry of Health wouldn't confirm this.
The case was reported to the Ministry of Health on Monday afternoon.
"The individual was tested as part of the routine testing for staff in the facility and returned a negative test on Thursday 29 October. On Saturday they developed symptoms and sought a further test on Sunday and a positive result was received today," the Ministry of Health said in a statement.
"The person is now in isolation at home and reports taking care to isolate themselves as soon as they developed symptoms."
The first of the international mariners who are due to complete their managed isolation on Tuesday morning will have their stay extended for "at least 24 hours" as a precautionary measure.
"Those precautionary measures have included additional tests - up to four tests for some individuals - and an already lengthened stay in managed isolation.
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The Ministry of Health said full details of the case and the actions taken in response will be provided in the 1pm press conference on Tuesday.
Addressing this new case in a Facebook live, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said New Zealand's system is "utterly built" for managing a situation like this.
"Our whole system is built for that, that's why we have an ongoing testing regime. It's why, particularly our people who work in our MIQ keep very, very good records of where they've been and who they've been in contact with," she said.
"They are very aware of their health status, so if they feel unwell they're very cautious about getting tested straight away and being isolated straight away."
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Back on October 20, several international seamen tested positive for COVID-19 days after starting quarantine in Christchurch.
A total of 440 seamen arrived from Russia and the Ukraine and all crew tested negative before arriving in New Zealand.
Monday's update from the Ministry of Health at 1pm reported a total of 31 cases connected to this group.
The Ministry of Health said earlier on Monday that some people in the group of seamen have been tested "as many as four times".
"We want to thank them for their commitment to New Zealand's testing processes and for contributing to good health outcomes for them and their colleagues."
A total of four new cases in managed isolated were announced on Monday, one of which is an international mariner staying at the Sudima in Christchurch.
The three other cases were a returnee from Milan via Singapore, another from London via Singapore and a third who joined a family member in managed isolation in Auckland.
