Casual plus and casual contacts
What it means to be a ‘casual plus contact' or a ‘casual contact'
Advice for casual plus contacts
What it means to be a ‘casual plus contact' or a ‘casual contact'
If you have been in the same place at the same time as someone with COVID-19 you may be a ‘casual plus contact’ or a ‘casual contact’.
- ‘Casual plus contacts’ are unvaccinated people who have been in the same place at the same time as someone infectious with COVID-19, but have not had enough exposure to be a close contact.
- 'Casual contacts' are people who have been in the same place at the same time as someone infectious with COVID-19, but may not have been near the person.
You may be notified you are a casual or casual plus contact via the COVID Tracer app, or by your workplace, a place you have visited, or your child's school, kura or early learning centre.
Advice for casual plus contacts
If you are told you a casual plus contact and you are not fully vaccinated you should:
- get a COVID-19 test immediately
- get another test 5 days after you were potentially exposed to COVID-19
- stay at home for 7 days and until you receive your negative day 5 test result - you also need to have been symptom free for at least 24 hours
- stay away from others in your household if you can
- watch out for symptoms of COVID-19
If you develop symptoms continue to stay at home and call Healthline on 0800 358 5453 for advice about getting another test.
Your household members do not need to stay at home or get tested unless they are also casual plus / close contacts, or they develop symptoms.
If you are fully vaccinated and told you are a casual plus contact you do not need to stay home, but should continue to watch for symptoms. If any develop you should get also get tested, stay home until you receive a negative result, and until you have been symptom free for 24 hours. Being fully vaccinated means you have had 2 vaccine doses, and the 2nd one was more than 7 days ago.
Advice for casual contacts
If you are a casual contact you do not need to get a test or isolate but should still watch for symptoms.
If you develop symptoms you’ll need to get a test immediately. You should stay home until you receive a negative test result and have been symptom free for 24 hours.
If you’re worried or don’t know what to do call your GP or Healthline on 0800 358 5453. Healthline is a free service available 24/7 and has interpreters available.
- Information for close contacts of a COVID-19 case (ARPHS)
- Information for people with COVID-19 (ARPHS)
- COVID-19 information (Ministry of Health)
COVID-19 is highly infectious. To reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19 to others it is important to practice good hygiene. You can do this by:
- wearing a mask or face covering when you are in public, especially if you cannot maintain social distancing
- coughing or sneezeing into your elbow, or covering your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze; throwing used tissues into a lined rubbish bin, and immediately washing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, making sure you dry them thoroughly; using hand sanitiser if there is no soap and water available
- washing and drying your hands often and thoroughly throughout the day
- avoiding touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands
- cleaning high-touch surfaces like kitchen benches and door handles regularly
Last updated 13.12.2021