Police Commissioner Andrew Coster says that police staff working at the anti-mandate protest outside Parliament have contracted Covid-19.

He says while they can't link transmission to the protest, with people coming far and wide for the demonstration, he would be surprised if there was no Covid among protesters.

Meanwhile, police are promising to be out in force at the protest today and will continue to patrol entrances to the protest to further restrict access to cars.

Police say they have had faeces and a stinging substance thrown at them in recent days, while a man was arrested after driving towards officers.

Groups connected to the protest have sought to distance themselves from increasingly violent actions.

Nearby school Wellington Girls' College students will study from home until at least Monday, and Wellington Free Ambulance will no longer attend emergencies within the protest area, both due to safety concerns.

Follow our coverage of the protest in Wellington: