The number of staff and students at Auckland's Marist College who have tested positive for coronavirus has risen to 16.

Ten of the cases were teachers, including the school's principal, Raechelle Taulu, and six were students.

The students were from year nine, 12 and 13, the school confirmed.

A parent of a year nine student at the school said her friend's daughter was one of those who had tested positive for the virus.

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"We're concerned about what's happening, but we've been self isolating since Monday and we're clear so far," the parent, who Stuff agreed not to name, said.

"At first my daughter's friend thought she had strep throat. She's doing okay and is self isolating, but missing her extended family a lot."

The parent said the school had been sending daily updates and positive messages to parents as well as instructions on what to do.

In the last few days things had really "ramped up" which had been scary, she said.

"The Board of Trustees are sending information around our outbreak twice a day, and none of it is good news of course, but they're trying their best to answer all our questions.

"Containment seems to be the main objective but I fear the horse may have already bolted on that one."

Marist College board of trustees chairman Stephen Dallow said many of those who had tested positive were feeling better and some were back to full health.

Some were still a little unwell and while none had required hospital care to his knowledge, they had experienced a "full-on flu".

Dallow said the school's leadership team were working on ways to help students struggling with their mental health as a result of the pandemic.

School counsellors were working with some concerned students online and they were trying to organise more resources for further support.

He said he had been made aware that some Marist students were out on the streets and mixing with others on Thursday.

"This cannot happen," Dallow said.

If New Zealand was to contain the virus, everyone needed to stay home to stop the spread, he said.

Dallow also said he had been made aware of online bullying from students of other schools.

He urged any Marist students experiencing this to let the school know through a private message on Facebook.

He had spoken to the principals of the schools involved and the situation had been dealt with swiftly.