Five people who attended the Soundsplash Music Festival in Hamilton have tested positive of Covid-19. One case is confirmed to have the Omicron variant.

The festival has now been added as a location of interest.

In a statement this afternoon, the Ministry of Health says anyone who attended the festival is asked to self-monitor for symptoms for 10 days following exposure at the event, which is until Wednesday, February 2.

So far, 68 people who attended the festival have been identified as close contacts, and this number is expected to increase.

The Ministry says contact tracing staff are contacting these individuals, who are required to follow all public health advice regarding isolation and testing.

'Whole Genome Sequencing has confirmed that one of the cases who attended the festival has the Omicron variant. Whole genome sequencing is underway for the remaining four cases.

'Interviews with the five cases will assist in determining whether they contracted COVID-19 before or while attending the festival.

'If any cold or flu symptoms develop which could be Covid-19, please get a test and isolate at home until a negative result is returned.

Soundsplash Festival organisers and Mystery Creek Event Centre owners encourage attendees to follow the advice as outlined on the Ministry's website where you should self-monitor for Covid-19 symptoms for 10 days and if symptoms do develop, get a test and stay at home until you get a negative test result.

'The event held under the orange traffic light level was held in accordance with the Covid-19 protection framework, with all protocols strictly followed including the scanning of Vaccine Passes,” organisers say in a statement released this afternoon.

'There were minimal reports of individuals attempting to unlawfully enter the event, with Security having dealt to those who chose to put others at risk with their poor decisions, the small handful of instances were notified to the Police who were present at the event.”