The Hunter has recorded it's worst day of the pandemic, after two people lost their lives with COVID-19 overnight.
One of the deaths was a man in his 40s from Arcadia Vale who was being cared for at home. The second was a man in his 50s who died while being cared for at the Calvary Mater Hospital at Waratah.
The region recorded another 55 new local cases on Wednesday across the Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Cessnock, Maitland, Port Stephens, Singleton and Mid-Coast local government areas.
By suburb the new cases are from Jesmond 2, New Lambton 2, Adamstown 2, Highfields 2, Mayfield 1, Cooks Hill 1, Newcastle 1, Shortland 1, Tarro 1, Kotara 1, Hamilton 1, Hamilton South 1, Lambton 1, Georgetown 1, Waratah West, Mount Hutton 2, Gateshead 2, Seahampton 1, Charlestown 1, Boolaroo 1, Edgeworth 1, Eleebana 1, Marks Point 1, Swansea 1, Whitebridge 1, Cessnock 4, Weston 4, Kurri Kurri 2, Bellbird 1, Metford 5, Rutherford 2, Chisholm 1, Morpeth 1, Raymond Terrace 2, Tanilba Bay 1, Singleton Heights 1, and Booral.
34 were infectious in the community, 28 are linked to existing cases and 16 are being cared for in hospital, including 2 in ICU.
Statewide, NSW recorded 863 new cases and 15 deaths.
The statewide vaccination rates are currently at 86.2 per cent first dose and 61.7 per cent double dose.
A number of COVID exposure sites have been listed overnight including at Singleton, Muswellbrook, Georgetown, Broadmeadow, Kurri Kurri, Belmont and Jesmond.
Anyone who attended the following venues at the specified dates and times is considered a casual contact and must get tested and isolate until a negative result is received.
- Anytime Fitness, Singleton on Wednesday 22 September between 9:20am 10:55am
- Singleton Council Administration Building on Friday 24 September between 8am - 4:30pm
- Game On, Muswellbrook on Thursday 23 September between 1pm - 3pm
- Belmont Mass Vaccination Hub on Saturday 25 September between 12pm - 2pm
- Newcastle Farmers Markets, Newcastle Showground on Sunday 26 September between 8am - 9am
- Vinny's Takeaway, Georgetown
- Wednesday 22 September between 10am - 1:30pm & 4:30pm - 5:30pm
- Thursday 23 September between 10am - 11am
- Saturday 25 September between 10am - 2pm & 4:30pm - 7:30pm
- McDonalds Kurri Kurri (in-store)
- Monday 20 September between 8:10am - 4:05pm
- Tuesday 21 September between 8am - 4:30pm
- Wednesday 22 September between 8am - 4pm
- Thursday 23 September between 8am - 4:30pm
- BWS, Jesmond
- Thursday 23 September between 4pm - 8:05pm
- Friday 24 September between 10:25am - 12:05pm & 1pm - 7:35pm
