The Hunter Region has recorded seven new cases of COVID-19, the highest daily number in a week, health officials said on Sunday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
One person in the Hunter was in intensive care due to COVID, but has now been discharged.
The cases announced on Sunday included two in Maitland, two in Newcastle, two in Port Stephens and one in Cessnock.
"Four cases are linked to a known case or cluster and investigations for the remaining three are ongoing. Six cases were infectious in the community," a Hunter New England Health statement said.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the state had recorded 1218 new COVID cases of community transmission. Six people had died from COVID, including three in their 80s and three in their 70s.
"Four of them were unvaccinated and two of them had only had one dose of the vaccine," she said.
The Premier said 834,000 people were vaccinated in NSW in the past week.
"That is an outstanding result. It's broken all our records," she said.
"As a result 65 per cent of our population have had at least one dose and 35 per cent of our population is fully vaccinated. We're halfway through that magic 70 per cent number across the state, in order to have those extra freedoms."
On Saturday, Hunter New England Health announced three extra cases in the region.
This included two from Thornton in the same household.
"Their source of infection is being investigated. Both cases were infectious in the community," a statement said.
The other case was from New Lambton, linked to the Costco cluster. This case wasn't infectious in the community.
The weekend's new cases meant the total number of cases in the current outbreak in the Hunter was 179.
Hunter New England Health also said on Saturday: "Eight people are currently being cared for in hospital with COVID-19. One is in ICU."
It added that: "632 close contacts are in isolation."
Meanwhile, tenants at James Street in Windale underwent a second round of COVID testing on Friday and will remain in isolation.
One resident was confirmed to have contracted COVID-19 earlier this week.
The public health unit advised the Windale tenants that their isolation would continue until further notice, with a third round of testing to be conducted on Monday.
When Monday's test results had been received, a further review would take place.
The Windale tenant confirmed as a positive case continues to be supported at an isolated location and remains in contact with the Wesley Community Housing team.
New exposure sites announced in the Hunter on Saturday were:
The Cheesecake Shop, East Maitland: Saturday, August 21 from 11.35am-11.45am
Discount Drug Stores, Thornton: Monday, August 23 from 6.00pm-6.10pm and 6.20pm-6.30pm
Coles at Thornton: Monday, August 23 from 6.10pm-6.30pm.
