A second case of Covid 19 has been discovered in Hastings after a household contact of the first case returned a positive result on Sunday. 

The Hawke's Bay District Health Board announced on Saturday night a positive Covid 19 result had been discovered in a Hastings resident. 

A household contact of that case has now returned a positive result. 

"There are two new community cases to announce in Hastings," the Ministry of Health announced, in its daily update on Sunday. 

"One was first announced by the district health board [on Saturday] and is included in Sunday's numbers. 

"The other case was notified after the daily cut-off for reporting and will be officially included in Monday's number. 

"The first case is being investigated for links to previously reported cases, and the second case is household contact of the first. 

"Locations of interest linked to this case have been published on the Ministry of Health website already and people who have spent time in the area are asked to check the website for any new locations, which will be added as they are confirmed." 

Both cases are now isolating with public health and welfare support. 

There is currently one location of interest in Hawke's Bay, Tu Step Fitness Class Ascende Global Church Hastings on Thursday January 13 (from 5.30 pm to 7.00pm) and Tuesday January 11 (from 5.30pm to 7.00pm). 

The church has responded to its premises being named as a location of interest. 

"The Ministry of Health recently tagged Ascende as a place of interest with a positive Covid case, this statement is to bring clarity as to what happened and assurance to our church community," the statement read, on the church's website. 

"An individual did participate in an activity held at Ascende during the week who tested positive afterwards (the individual concerned also visited other facilities in the community). 

"The activity was confined to only one of our smaller rooms and nowhere else. 

"The other close contacts who participated in the activity have been notified and are self-isolating. 

"Our staff are working closely with the Ministry of Health over the issue. 

"The area concerned has been cleaned as per the requirements given by the Ministry of Health in order to use the room again. 

"This was not in our auditorium and the matter has been well contained so we will continue to gather as per the guidelines and our facility will be open as usual." 

On Sunday, there were 25 new community cases of Covid announced across the country including Northland (1), Auckland (15), Waikato (2), Bay of Plenty (3), Lakes (2), Hawke's Bay (1), and Wellington (1). 

- by Gary Hamilton-Irvine