Two more cases of Covid-19 were confirmed in Christchurch on Friday.
The Ministry of Health has now confirmed there are four active cases in the city.
The virus has also been detected in Christchurch's wastewater on October 27.
In total there are 125 new community cases across the country, including 118 in Auckland, four in Waikato and one in Northland.
"The rise in case numbers is a reminder of the infectiousness of Covid-19 and particularly the Delta variant, and the importance of vaccination as the best protection," said a Ministry of Health spokesperson.
"With over 30,000 tests processed nationwide yesterday, these results aren't unexpected."
It was revealed yesterday that two people from the same Christchurch family had returned positive Covid-19 tests.
One of the pair had travelled from Auckland on October 15 - with an exemption related to essential childcare - and infected a second person in their household.
The first case returned a negative test before coming to the South Island but later became unwell.
Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said both are both unvaccinated and had "not been particularly good users of the Covid tracer app".
Anyone in Canterbury with any symptoms, even mild, are urged to get tested and to "closely monitor" the Ministry's locations of interest page.
More than 3,000 tests were carried out in Canterbury yesterday and nearly 11,000 vaccines were administered.
Seventy-one percent of all eligible people in the area are fully vaccinated, and 90 percent have received their first dose of the Pfizer vaccine.
There are currently 13 locations of interest in Christchurch - a list that could be added to later today when more information is released by the Ministry of Health.
Anyone at the locations at the specified time should self-monitor for Covid-19 symptoms for 14 days after exposure.
If symptoms develop, get a test and stay at home until you get a negative test result AND until 24 hours after symptoms resolve.
The first 13 locations of interest confirmed yesterday were:
• The Mad Dairy on Main South Rd, Hornby: 12.45pm to 1.15pm, October 18
• Hornby Chinese Takeaways on Main South Rd, Hornby: 12.45pm to 1.30pm, October 18
• Burger King on Curletts Rd, Sockburn: 4.30pm to 5.30pm, October 18
• Z Curletts Rd on Curletts Rd, Sockburn: 5pm to 5.30pm, October 18
• Supervalue Fendalton Village on Ilam Rd, Bryndwr: 6.45pm to 7.45pm, October 18
• Try's Bakery on Main South Rd, Islington: 7.30am to 8.30am, October 20
• Caltex on Blenheim Rd, Riccarton: 5.45pm to 6.15pm, October 20
• Gloucester and Stanmore Corner Dairy on Stanmore Rd, Linwood: 6pm to 6.30pm, October 20
• Pannell Discounter on Wainoni Rd, Wainoni: 1pm to 1.45pm, October 2
• Waimairi Takeaway on Greers Rd, Bryndwr: 4.15pm to 5.15pm, October 23
• Kims Corner Dairy on Greers Rd, Bryndwr: 4.30pm to 5.15pm, October 23
• New World in Bishopdale Court, Bishopdale: 11.30am to 12.30pm, October 25
• Kens Takeways on Sawyers Arms Rd, Bishopdale: 4pm to 5pm, October 27
The COVID-19 CBTCs currently operating in Canterbury are:
• Orchard Road CBTC (near Airport), 174 Orchard Road, (Off Harewood Road), Christchurch. Open 9am-late, 7 days a week.
• Whānau Ora Community Clinic CBTC (Wainoni), 250 Pages Road, Wainoni, Christchurch. Open 9am-3:30pm (or later if demand requires), 7 days a week.
• Ashburton Hospital site CBTC - 28 Elizabeth Street, Ashburton hospital site, Open 10am-2pm, Tuesday to Thursday and on Saturday (Walk-in/no referral required)
Yesterday the Canterbury District Health Board said its testing centres were already experiencing increased demand.
"And we have increased capacity to respond to this, with additional staff brought on board," said CDHB senior responsible officer for Covid-19 response Dr Helen Skinner.
"Our Orchard Road site will remain open late today as demand requires.
"Please get tested if you visited a location of interest or have cold and flu symptoms."
Full details of testing options in Canterbury can be found here.
In Auckland, a resident at Edmonton Meadows retirement village in Henderson has been infected with the virus.
The risk is set to be low, but testing is being arranged for all staff and residents. No staff members have been directed to stand down at this stage.
The Ministry of Health said both staff and residents at the village have "very high vaccination rates".
An investigation into the source of infection at the retirement village is underway.
Four hundred and seventy-eight people are isolating at home in Auckland.
Anyone in Auckland suburbs of Redvale, Rosedale, New Lynn, Wiri, Drury, Henderson and Manurewa are urged to get tested if they have symptoms – no matter how mild and even if they are fully vaccinated.
In Waikato, three of the new cases were in the Te Awamutu/Kihikihi area and one in Ōtorohanga.
An additional two cases confirmed today will be included in tomorrow's numbers. Both were in Kāwhia at the time they were tested but travelled to the Auckland region before receiving positive results.
The pair are currently in isolation in Auckland.
A pop-up testing centre at the Maketu Marae in Kāwhia will run for the next three days.
Anyone in the area is urged to get tested if they symptoms, even if mild, and even if they are double vaccinated.
A new case in Northland today is a household member of an infected person and were already isolating, the Ministry said.
Just 1,163 vaccinations were carried out in the region yesterday and 667 swabs taken.
More than 30,000 tests were processed across the country yesterday, so today's high case numbers "aren't unexpected", the Ministry said.
A MIQ worker who tested positive, announced yesterday, remains under investigation to determine whether they are a community or border-related case.
To date 73 percent of the country's eligible population have been fully vaccinated. Eighty-seven percent have received their first jab.
In Auckland 79 percent are fully vaccinated and 91 percent have received their first dose.
Eight thousand second doses were administered in Auckland yesterday, and 2413 first doses.
Fifty-one per cent of the eligible Māori population are fully vaccinated, and 66 per cent of Pacific peoples.
"The rise in case numbers is a reminder of the infectiousness of Covid-19, particularly the Delta variant, and the importance of vaccination as the best protection," the Ministry said.
SkyCity bans those without Covid jab
SkyCity Entertainment Group will ban non-vaccinated people from its hotels, bars, restaurant and casinos, its chief indicating the company is taking the lead in the hospitality sector.
Chief executive Michael Ahearne said entry to all New Zealand sites would soon require a vaccination certificate.
Once the Government makes available the new Covid vaccination certificates, SkyCity will demand to see them before letting people in.
That means non-vaccinated won't soon be able to get into the SkyTower, SkyCity hotels, bars, restaurants and casino properties in Auckland, Hamilton and Queenstown.
The business employs around 2900 people and tens of thousands of people annually visit its properties which include The Depot on Federal St and the popular tower.
