The number of locally acquired coronavirus cases in the Hunter New England Health district continues to creep higher, along with the total number of positive tests.
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The latest figures from HNEH show the number of confirmed cases was 234 at 8pm on Wednesday, 16 higher than the day before.
Another three suspected cases are under investigation.
The number of locally acquired cases without a known source, a crucial metric in the spread of COVID-19, is now 14, up from five a week ago.
"Those are the ones we are particularly interested in," HNEH public health physician Dr David Durrheim.
"if we see any clustering of those cases, we will be doing much more targeted community screening."
Seven more cases are under investigation.
The overall growth rate has slowed in recent days, a factor Dr Durrheim attributes to the "cruise ship factor".
Cruise ship passengers, including 85 off the Ruby Princess, account for about half of known cases in the health district, but Dr Durrheim said the incubation period for those cases had now ended.
He said all of the Ruby Princess passengers and most of the other cruise ship travellers had self-isolated very effectively.
"What we are seeing, though, is some other groups are still increasing," he said.
"We are still seeing an increase in returning overseas visitors who should be in strict isolation at the moment.
"We are also seeing an increase in the number of people infected in gatherings, something which should definitely cease.
"And then we've got this small number of unknown cases, which means that the virus is in the community and circulating at a low level.
"This is our opportunity to stop it in its tracks. We need to make sure that we distance ourselves, that we stay at home and only go out if really necessary."
Dr Durrheim said some of the 14 unknown-source cases worked in the tourism industry and were likely infected by overseas travellers, but others had no obvious means of contracting the virus.
Eleven COVID-19 patients are in HNEH hospitals, including five in intensive care.
NSW added another 116 confirmed cases up to 8pm on Wednesday, a fall from 150 the previous day.
The state reported 114 new cases up to 8pm on Sunday and 174 up to 8pm on Saturday.
The total number of confirmed cases in NSW is 2298, almost half the national total.
NSW Health is treating 231 COVID-19 patients, including 43 in intensive care units and 20 on ventilators.
More than half the 231 are being treated at home.
The death of an elderly patient at Orange Base Hospital on Wednesday increased the state's toll to 10.
The national death toll is now 23.
The 14-day isolation period for passengers from most cruise ships that came into Sydney, including Ovation of the Seas, Voyager of the Seas, Celebrity Solstice and Ruby Princess, is close to ending.
NSW health has linked 74 cases to the Ovation of the Seas, 34 cases and five crew members to the Voyager of the Seas, 11 cases to the Celebrity Solstice and 337 cases plus three crew members to the Ruby Princess, which docked on March 19.
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