COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins has ruled out Christchurch moving up Covid Alert Levels, for now, following news of two cases in Christchurch.

The Ministry of Health was notified last evening of two positive COVID-19 cases in Christchurch from the same household.

One member of the household had recently returned to Christchurch from Auckland.

The local public health unit is gathering information from the cases to identify close contacts and exposure events, including any locations of interest.

Chris Hipkins said “these cases came in late last night, so we have got some information on them, which means there were obviously questions.”

He said any cases that pop up outside where there is containment is a worry.

“So what we know so far is that we’re dealing with two cases, one who was in Auckland and had been back in Christchurch for somewhere around about a week, potentially infectious for a period of that, and therefore may well have been isolating at home because they were unwell.

“Both cases are unvaccinated”

“And so I think there’s at least one other household that’s been identified with close contact so there’ll be working to get in touch with them to make sure that they ate tested, isolating and make sure that they are tested.”