UPDATE: The Ministry of Health has confirmed that the new COVID-19 community case is the South African strain.

The COVID Response Minister Chris Hipkins and Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield provided the latest update on the new case in Northland this afternoon.

Hipkins says the source of infection is highly likely to be a fellow returnee who stayed at the Pullman Hotel during the person's stay.

'The two people occupied rooms in close proximity to each other on the same floor.

'I am advised by officials they are confident the infection was a direct one and there is no other missing link between those two people.”

Hipkins says investigations into how the infection took place are continuing.

'This includes looking at CCTV footage from the Pullman Hotel to identify when and where they may have come into contact with one and other.”

He reiterates that the Northland case has adhered to infection control guidelines in her room and the exercise space.

The Ministry of Health is working on the assumption the South African variant is a more transmissible variant.

Dr Bloomfield says contact tracing has identified 15 people who are being treated as close contacts to the Northland case.

'The reason this number has gone up is because there are 13 of them who are in two retail settings, and it's not clear which of these people served the case.”

He says all 15 close contacts have been contacted, tested and are self-isolating.

Earlier today Hipkins confirmed that two of the women's close contacts – her husband and hairdresser – have already returned negative tests.

The Ministry of Health has decided to delay the release of 46 people who were due to complete their isolation at the Pullman Hotel today.

These 46 people will be tested again before they are released.

Of the 253 returnees who have exited the Pullman Hotel within the new infection window, 172 have been contacted as of 8am this morning.

'We are advising that those guests who exited isolation between January 9-21 to self-isolation immediately.

'They should contact Healthline to arrange a test and remain in self-isolation until they get a negative result,” says Hipkins.

About 114 Pullman Hotel staff have already been tested, and the remainder will be tested this afternoon.

Earlier: The Minister for COVID Response Chris Hipkins and Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield will provide the latest update on the new community case in Northland.

They will be live from 1pm.

Two of the closest contacts of a woman who tested positive for COVID-19 in Northland after leaving managed isolation have tested negative, RNZ reports.

Hipkins told Radio New Zealand that the results for the woman's husband and hairdresser have since come back negative.

"So that's some good news to start the day.

"Her husband would without doubt be her closest contact - that coming back negative is a good sign and so we'll know more as the day unfolds as to what the overall risk of this case is."

He says the woman had six close contacts.

They are all isolating while test results come through.

Other contacts who have been in the same place at the same time are regarded as "casual plus" contacts. They are being asked to isolate after taking tests.

Hipkins says it could be up to 48 hours before there's enough information to make any calls on changing alert levels.

He is hopeful genome sequencing will be completed today to determine the source of the case.

The woman travelled across Northland before her positive test result.

After leaving isolation, she went to Helensville, Mangawhai and Dargaville.

Dr Bloomfield says she 'almost definitely' visited Whangārei.

-Additional reporting RNZ