THE Hunter has hit an unwanted new record, with 82 fresh COVID cases detected in Thursday's update.
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The region has now had 919 cases since August 5.
Of the new cases 34 were infectious, 27 were isolated completely and 21 remain under investigation.
"Not a record that we are happy with, and obviously we are finding that the virus is widely spread through suburbs throughout Lake Macquarie, Newcastle, Maitland, Port Stephens and Cessnock LGAS," Hunter New England Health's Dr David Durrheim said.
"We are seeing them in young families, young adults' social groups and industrial workplaces.
"The call-out now is really to keep the stay-at-home in the front of your mind. The virus is ubiquitous, it is everywhere.
"Now is a very important time to stay at home."
Dr Durrheim said employers had a responsibility to have the best possible COVID measures in place, saying the majority of Hunter cases "are being driven by people who are unvaccinated".
Known exposures or clusters are connected to 48 of the new cases, nine have no links and sources of 25 are yet to be determined.
Most of the Hunter's new infections were in Lake Macquarie, including four in Edgeworth and two each in Woodrising, Windale and Belmont South.
Toronto, Cooranbong, Booragul, Mirrabooka, Charlestown, Dudley, Glendale, Gateshead, Belmont, Marks Point and Murrays Beach also had single cases.
Cessnock had seven cases in Kurri Kurri, five in Weston, two in Cliftleigh and one apiece for Cessnock, Heddon Greta, Kitchener, Laguna and Neath.
Newcastle's cases were spread around a range of suburbs, with three each in Wallsend and Mayfield.
Two cases were in New Lambton and Newcastle, with one each for Merewether, Tarro, Adamstown, Hamilton South, Mayfield East, Waratah West and Rankin Park.
A dozen of Maitland's cases were in Woodberry, with the remaining five linked to Rutherford, Thornton, East Maitland, South Maitland and Farley.
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Raymond Terrace had two of Port Stephens' four cases, with the others in Fern Bay and Medowie.
Four of the Hunter New England cases fell to Midcoast Council, with three in Gloucester and one in Pampoolah, near Cundletown.
"We are seeing a rise in cases in our regional areas," NSW chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant said.
"Again in Hunter we are seeing an increase in cases."
Fresh information on what tracking and tracing looks like beyond 70 per cent is likely to be released in the next few days, Ms Berejiklian said, noting she would like to have seen a national plan on that front.
The state government has also pledged to keep funding JobSaver as restrictions ease despite a withdrawal of federal support.
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the payments would taper once 70 per cent vaccination arrived on October 11, dropping from 40 per cent to 30 per cent of weekly payroll.
At 80 per cent, due in late October, payments from the federal government will end but NSW will continue paying its half of JobSaver.
They would taper from 30 per cent to 15 per cent of weekly payroll at that point before ending on November 30.
By that point, the support will have cost the state government more than $8 billion.
"The light at the end of the tunnel is so close, and this support will help see businesses and workers out to the other side and prepare them for re-launch," Ms Berejiklian said.
Some freedoms could arrive earlier than December 1, Ms Berejiklian said, instead being bundled into the 80 per cent milestone expected to arrive in late October.
The premier did not elaborate.
"They won't be major things but there will be tweaks," Ms Berejiklian said.
NSW hit 86.7 per cent first doses, Premier Gladys Berejiklian said, with 62.9 per cent double dosed.
Ms Berejiklian said the state would "definitely" hit 70 per cent by October 11, as expected.
47.6 per cent of 12 to 16 year olds have also received a first dose.
"These vaccine rates are continuing at good pace," Ms Berejiklian said.
"Access to the vaccine is not the issue."
Dr Chant noted some people including the homeless, those with addiction issues and those in social housing may have difficult accessing the vaccine, but efforts were underway to ensure nobody was left behind.
"I just want to let the community know how hard our health districts ... are [working] to reach out to all those vulnerable groups," she said.
"Please just be reassured that our districts are doing some wonderful work."
NSW recorded 941 cases in Thursday's update.
Six people died with COVID in the 24 hours to 8pm on Wednesday, four men and two women.
NSW Health said four were unvaccinated, while two had received just one dose of a vaccine.
"Two people were from south western Sydney, one person was from Sydney's inner west, one person was from western Sydney, one person was from south eastern Sydney, and one person was from north western Sydney," NSW Health said in a statement.
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