Newcastle hotel 'quarantine' for close contacts of Hunter COVID-19 cases

Police and security have been called in to help manage the facility and monitor close contacts, in support of health staff who are providing care to those in isolation.

A spokeswoman for Hunter New England Health confirmed the quarantine site has been established "as a precaution to help limit transmission and to closely monitor close contacts."

It points to the likelihood that the Hunter's five COVID-19 cases are being treated in hospital, which officials have been unwilling to confirm.

It is unclear how many close contacts are currently being accommodated in the hotel quarantine facility.

Officials have also confirmed that the COVID-19 site which was scheduled to be up and running at Newcastle Racecourse has been moved to McDonald Jones Stadium and is expected to be up and running by 9am Friday.

It will operate from 7am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, and 7.30am to 4pm on Saturdays and Sundays.

A full list of up-to-date operating hours for Hunter test sites is available on the Hunter New England and Central Coast Primary Health Network website..

News of the week-long snap lockdown sent a wave of dread and panic among residents on Thursday who swamped test sites and supermarkets, and enraged community leaders who say not enough has been done to stop the outbreak leaking out of Sydney, or to vaccinate people against the virus.

In announcing the lockdown, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the five cases - three people in their 20s and two children from Maitland Christian School, aged 8 and 11, are believed to be linked to a party held at Blacksmiths Beach on Friday night.

"We believe there may have been people there from Greater Sydney and that's how it was introduced," Ms Berejiklian said. "We think there is a link to Western Sydney. I just thank people for being honest with us."

There are also nine confirmed cases of COVID-19 on the Central Coast, eight of which live in the same household. The ninth case is also thought to be linked to the beach party at Blacksmiths.

NSW chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant said that number of cases "does not fully explain" the level of viral fragments found in sewage at Belmont, Burwood and Shortland treatment centres in samples taken on Monday.

"We don't want anyone to be complacent that we have got the full picture at this stage," she said, urging people to come forward and get tested.

"That is in the best interests of anyone, at this time, to get to the bottom of it."

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