Newcastle and Hunter COVID figures: 97 daily cases as region's active cases pass 1000, NSW adds 646

The Hunter set a fresh daily case record on Friday, racking up 97 new cases in the 24 hours to 8pm on Thursday night.

Eleven people died in Sydney with the virus, with 646 cases added to the tally in NSW.

NSW Health said seven of them were not vaccinated, three had received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and one had received two doses.

Dr Durrheim said the last three to four weeks had seen a "large increase" in the number of Indigenous patients with COVID, many of whom were not jabbed.

"Initially it was about 1 per cent of our cases, but most recently this week 20 percent of our cases are in Aboriginal families in the Aboriginal community," Dr Durrheim said.

"Put hesitancy aside - now is the time to get vaccinated."

Hunter New England Health's Dr David Durrheim said that the virus would have many more opportunities to spread from early next week after Monday's reopening.

"Most of our COVID cases are unvaccinated people under 40 years of age," Dr Durrheim said.

"These are the group that are spreading the virus in the community.

"We lag behind in our vaccination coverage compared to the state coverage, and people are rapidly taking up the opportunities to get vaccinated, but in the meantime we implore you, do not take the risk."

"Do not gather in large groups. Make sure you keep the social distancing. That face mask that's been keeping you safe, keep it on. Ask your friends are you vaccinated. Make sure you don't inadvertently expose yourself to COVID-19."

The Hunter New England health district has 1014 active cases, with 30 of those in hospital and four in intensive care.

Lake Macquarie remains the area with the most fresh daily cases, with 27 on Friday.

The local government area had four cases in Warners Bay, three in Mount Hutton, and two in Hillsborough, Teralba, Tingara Heights, Windale and Gateshead.

Single cases were added in Belmont North, Cardiff Heights, Charlestown, Edgeworth, Macquarie Hills, Marmong Point, Speers Point, Toronto, Valentine and Yarrawonga Park.

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Cessnock had eight of the LGA's 23 cases with five in Paxton, four in Ellalong, three in Kurri Kurri and individual cases for Aberdare, Kitchener and Weston.

Six of Maitland's 17 cases were in Woodberry.

Ashtonfield had four, there were two each in Aberglasslyn and South Maitland with the remainder split between East Maitland, Metford and Telarah.

Newcastle and Singleton each had six new cases.

In Newcastle half were from Mayfield, with the others spread between Tarro, Fletcher and Cooks Hill.

Singleton itself had four, with one in Hunterview and another in Singleton Heights.

Medowie had two of Port Stephens' three cases, with the other in Raymond Terrace.

The remaining Hunter New England health district cases fell in Tamworth (five in West Tamworth, three in Tamworth), Midcoast (three in Taree, two in Nabiac and one in Minimbah) and a single case in Gunnedah's Curlewis.

Hunter New England Health said 42 cases were completely isolated, with 34 infectious in the community and 24 under investigation.

Of the new cases 66 were linked to known exposures or clusters, 10 are unlinked and investigations continue for the source of 21.

Sewage detections have also been made for Tamworth, Quirindi, Wee Waa, Singleton and Taree.

856 people are in hospital across the state, with 170 requiring intensive care.

89.4 per cent of the over-16 population in NSW has received a first dose COVID-19 vaccine, and 70.3 per cent are fully vaccinated.

NSW Health said seven of them were not vaccinated, three had received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and one had received two doses.

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