A quarter of the COVID-19 cases detected in NSW in the 24 hours to 8pm Friday were in the Hunter New England.
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The local health district had 78 cases, more than any other in the state. South Western Sydney had 69 while Western Sydney had 37.
Forty-nine of the Hunter New England's cases were infectious in the community, 23 were in isolation during their infectious period and six remain under investigation.
There were 56 cases linked to known exposures or clusters, 16 were unlinked, and the source of six cases remains uncertain.
Of the new cases:
- 21 are from Lake Macquarie local government area (LGA);
- 20 are from Newcastle LGA;
- 15 are from Mid Coast LGA;
- 10 are from Cessnock LGA;
- six are from Maitland LGA;
- two are from Dungog LGA;
- two are from Tamworth LGA;
- one is from Port Stephens LGA; and
- one is from Muswellbrook LGA.
Two people in NSW died with the virus in the reporting period.
More than 64,000 tests were undertaken and 469 people are in hospital, including 123 in intensive care.
Fragments of the virus have been detected in sewage at Inverell, where there are no known cases.
This is in addition to the recent detects at Guyra, Moree and Quirindi, where there are also no known cases.
"We continue to urge the communities across our District, but especially in these areas, to please, come forward for testing," a HNEH spokesperson said.
"Even if they are experiencing the mildest symptoms."
VACCINATION SITES
Super Pfizer Walk-in vaccination this weekend for 12 - 15 year olds
Tamworth Hospital
9am to 1pm
Saturday 23 October
Armidale Hospital
9am to 3pm
Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 October
Muswellbrook
9.30am to 12.30pm
Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 October
Moree
10am to 12:30pm
Saturday 23 October
Belmont Mass Vaccination Centre
8am to 2.45pm
Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 October
Pop-up clinics at Cessnock and Kurri Kurri
Cessnock
Cessnock Hospital, Foster Street entrance
Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 October
9am-1pm
Walk-in Pfizer appointments
Open to those aged 12 years and over
Kurri Kurri
Kurri Kurri Guide Hall
116 Lang Street
Wednesday 27 October
10am to 1pm
Walk-in Pfizer appointments
Open to those aged 12 years and over
Children aged 15 years and younger must be accompanied by a parent/guardian aged over 18 years.
Attendees must wear a mask, bring their Medicare card and ID (drivers licence, student ID).
Bookings can also be made via the Commonwealth Government's COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic Finder.
The NSW Government continues to publish vaccination rates by postcode