WELLINGTON - NEW Zealand's Roman Catholic Church re-imposed its ban on priests placing communion wafers on worshippers' tongues and sharing communion wine from a chalice as the country reported 28 new cases of H1N1 flu on Wednesday.

Catholics also have been asked to avoid bodily contact at services, including shaking hands at the 'sign of peace' during a service.

The first nation in the Asia-Pacific region hit by swine flu, New Zealand has confirmed 127 cases since the first outbreak in late April. The count has jumped by 93 cases since last Friday.

'While the number of cases of the new influenza H1N1 is increasing ... there are still relatively few cases and only isolated instances of community transmission,' deputy director of public health Dr Fran McGrath said in a statement.

She said the flu was mild to moderate in most people infected, and they could manage their infection at home without drugs.

The Roman Catholic Church has reimposed its earlier ban on the communion on medical advice, Bishop Denis Browne said.

A number of businesses and schools in the northern city of Auckland and in the southern city of Christchurch remained closed Wednesday after swine flu cases were confirmed. -- AP