Fifty-five prisoners and 21 staff at Auckland Region Women's Corrections Facility are isolating after a staff member tested positive for COVID-19.
The staffer, who has been self-isolating, tested positive on Friday morning after a member of their household contracted the virus.
The staff member last worked at the prison between December 17 and December 20.
Regional Commissioner Lynettte Cave said staff have been stood down and the 55 prisoners are isolating in separate units.
All prisoners have been tested, while staff have been asked to isolate and get swabbed.
In a statement, Cave said the prison took immediate action when they were informed that a staff member was a close contact of a positive case, and began contact tracing as a precaution.
The prison is at COVID-19 Protection Stage 2.
"This means no face-to-face visits for private and legal visitors took place during the period the staff member was on site," Cave said.
"We appreciate that this may be distressing for women accommodated within the prison and staff have been reassuring them frequently and distributing information sheets so that they know what has happened, and what they need to do to prevent COVID-19 from spreading.
"I would like to assure the whānau and friends of women at the prison that all of the women are safe and well, and the Christmas meal and activities planned for today are continuing - with additional physical distancing and PPE use."
Welfare support is in place for staff and inmates will be cared for by Corrections health and custodial staff, Cave said.
Latest figures show 67 percent of women in prison are fully vaccinated.
RNZ
