A teacher at a Mount Maunganui childcare centre has tested positive for Covid-19.

The teacher works at BestStart McDonald Street and tested positive for the virus late Thursday, prompting the closure of the centre on Friday, says BestStart Deputy CEO Fiona Hughes.

'We contacted our parents immediately and were closed on Friday,” she says.

'There were 44 children and 12 staff at the centre.”

Fiona says they are awaiting advice on how long the centre will need to remain closed.

'We are hopeful that this prompt closure will help minimise any exposure to others and wish our teacher the very best for her recovery.”

This is the second BestStart in Tauranga to have positive Covid cases.

A parent with Omicron was present at the BestStart Pyes Pā on January 19 and more than 59 children and 15 staff were on-site the same day as the case.

At the time, Fiona told SunLive: 'The safety of our tamariki is paramount, so we have acted quickly”.

The childcare closed and underwent a deep clean, she says.

Yesterday there were 14 new cases being reported in the Bay of Plenty.

Eight are contacts of existing cases and three are being investigated to determine any potential links.

Six of these cases are in the Western Bay, four are in Tauranga and one is in the Eastern Bay of Plenty.