People who become unwell with respiratory symptoms within 90 days after a Covid-19 infection but are low-risk should stay at home and recover until 24 hours after most symptoms cleared up, the ministry said.
"We don't advise routinely retesting at home within this period, but if someone becomes increasingly unwell they should seek advice from their GP or Healthline," Carr said.
More at-risk people who became unwell again within 90 days of their initial illness should seek further advice from a health practitioner, she said.
People who became infected more than 90 days after catching Covid-19 should treat their new case as if it was a first infection, Carr said.
"Our advice to health practitioners when testing for reinfection is that it's exceptionally unlikely if symptomatic less than 28 days after the original infection," she said.
"People who are symptomatic within 29 to 90 days after original infection could be tested with a supervised rapid antigen test.
"It's really important to take any respiratory illness seriously and take time to recover."
Carr said there was traditionally more sickness in the population during the colder months and that meant it was important people still followed public health guidance, she said.
"Please continue to stay at home if you're unwell, practice good hand hygiene, wear a face mask when out in public and continue to maintain physical distance from others when possible."
"Again, vaccination remains a key defence against winter ills and chills – both the Covid-19 vaccine and the influenza vaccine.
"Please book your appointment today."
