Jacinda Ardern says new COVID cases no cause for huge concern

Jacinda Ardern says the new case of COVID-19 in the community is linked to a quarantine worker, and is a good example of how the systems in place to contain the virus are working.

On Sunday one person outside of managed isolation tested positive for COVID-19 -  they are a close contact of another person who tested positive on Friday. 

Both are Defence Force employees who deal with people in managed isolation facilities. 

On Monday Ardern faced questions about the new cases on The AM Show and she maintains there is no need to panic.

"We've had a handful of these situations - these are workers who are in close contact with people who have COVID - whilst the primary case was wearing personal protective equipment, it is a difficult virus."

She says all workers know to look out for symptoms of the virus and the speed at which contacts were traced shows everything is working as it should.

Garner asked why Sunday's case had been moved around the country, flying from Auckland to Wellington and visiting a restaurant. 

"To give a bit of context - we had an individual who works in a facility who has picked up COVID -  they have been tested and very rapidly we contact traced everyone they had been in contact with," said Ardern.

"They had a meeting with a colleague - that person has been isolated and tested and that is the person you're talking about so now we are tracing their contacts."

Attendees at this meeting have been identified and are isolating, the  Ministry of Health said.

The Ministry will update on New Zealand's latest COVID-19 cases at 1pm on Monday. Watch the live coverage on Newshub.co.nz