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People are being asked to keep isolating at home while they wait, and not call Healthline or the laboratories to check the status of their test.

Laboratories have come under pressure from continued high demand at the region's testing centres.

Some results are coming back within 48 hours, but an increasing number are taking up to five days.

The Northern Region Health Co-ordination Centre says large numbers of people have been turning up at testing sites across Auckland.

That is despite officials' pleas for people without symptoms, or a valid reason for a test, to stay away.

The Ministry of Health this week said unnecessary testing could delay results for those who urgently need them.

"People should only get tested if they have a cold or flu symptoms, are a close contact, or if they have been asked to get tested by a health official," the ministry said.

Earlier in the week 70% of those turning up at Covid-19 testing centres had no symptoms