Since March, the community has become accustomed to seeing markings on the ground indicating places to stand, 1.5 metres apart. Hand sanitiser on entry to shops, workplaces, gyms, cafes and restaurants has become the norm, as we have come to terms with Zoom meetings, masks, not shaking hands and hugging.

Despite outbreaks and clusters, the region has remained relatively unscathed when compared to the widespread devastation predicted at the beginning of the pandemic. At least so far.

Six months on, there are no active cases in the Hunter, but public health physician, Dr David Durrheim, said we are "not out of the woods yet".

PICTURED ABOVE: Dr David Durrheim can see the light at the end of the COVID tunnel - a vaccine, although we need to be patient. Picture: Simone De Peak

Our health reporter, Anita Beaumont has been covering the impact of coronavirus on the Hunter from the first recorded case in the region and, in tomorrow's Newcastle Herald, she reports on the lessons learned living under the cloud of COVID-19.

As a valued subscriber to the Newcastle Herald you can read Anita's full report tonight, before it publishes in tomorrow's paper.

You can find the full story available only for our subscribers here. As always, thank you for supporting our local journalism.