Lower Hutt Mayor Campbell Barry said he understood the new locations, made public by the Minisry of Health today, would be unnerving for people, especially for those finishing their Christmas shopping.
"It's clear we have Covid in our community in Lower Hutt and that will be unsettling for a lot of people, but we are prepared for this and have worked really hard to get high vaccinations rates across the Hutt Valley.
"People need to continue scanning in, follow guidelines and it's important that we are here for each other."
Barry expected the Ministry of Health to issue more information on the situation later today.
The Ministry has released several locations of interest in Upper and Lower Hutt, and is urging anyone who has been there on the same day and time as a positive case to monitor themselves for symptoms for 10 days.
If symptoms do begin to show, they should immediately seek a test and isolate until a negative result is returned.
Hutt locations of interest
Minimart Trentham between 11.10am and 11.20 on Sunday 19 December
Naenae Four Square between 7.50 pm and 8.05 pm on Saturday 18 December
Pak n Save Lower Hutt between 8.45 am and 9.35 am on Monday 20 December
Warehouse Stationary Lower Hutt between 11.15 am and 11.30 am on Monday 20 December
Fuda Bakery between 8.55 am and 9.10 am on Tuesday 21 December.
Since the Auckland border opened on December 15, they are the first locations of interest in the Wellington region.
Wellington has not recorded a case of Covid-19 since November 19, when a weak positive case was detected in a double vaccinated man.
Lower Hutt-based National list MP Chris Bishop said he thought people would be a little bit nervous.
"But my message would just be to follow public health advice, monitor locations of interests, scan in, and wear masks. Also, if you haven't been vaccinated yet go and get your first, second, or third shot- that's going to be really important over summer."
There has been controversy in Upper Hutt because the city council has decided to stick with its decision to not require vaccine passes for entry to council facilities.
The decision was reviewed after initial opposition from some members of the public earlier in the month.
Upper Hutt City Council is in the heart of Covid Response Minister Chris Hipkins' Remutaka electorate.
Council chief executive Peter Kelly has said the council's position could change and it would continue to monitor the risk.
"While we have received messages of support over the past two weeks, we have also heard messages of concern from staff, elected officials and members of the community.
"We have factored that into our risk-based approach so that if the risk changes, our settings will also change."
Vaccine passes would not be required for the local library, council civic centre or the H2O Xtream Aquatic Centre.
The exception was the council's art exhibition facility Whirinaki Whare Taonga.
