BREAKING! 424 new COVID cases across Hunter New England

BY DAKOTA TAIT

It's a shocking day of numbers, with the Hunter New England Health District recording another 424 new COVID-19 infections. 

So far, 150 people who went to Argyle House last week have tested positive.

At least two cases are now confirmed to have the Omicron variant - one's connected to the Argyle cluster.

There are currently 827 active cases across the district. Seven of these are in hospital with the virus, and three are in intensive care.

CASE BREAKDOWN

• Newcastle - 243
• Lake Macquarie -76
• Maitland - 69
• Port Stephens - 18
• Cessnock - 7
• Mid Coast - 4
• Moree Plains - 2
• Singleton - 2
• Tamworth - 2
• Armidale - 1

STATEWIDE

NSW has recorded 1,360 new local cases and one death.

166 people are in hospital with the virus, including 24 in intensive care.

The statewide vaccination rates are currently at 93.2 per cent double dose and 94.8 per cent single dose.

EXPOSURE SITES

All 680 people who checked into the Argyle House nightclub in Newcastle from 9pm on Wednesday December 8 to 3am on Thursday December 9 have been assessed as close contacts and must get tested immediately and isolate for seven days.

Anyone who attended the University of Newcastle Medical Ball at Newcastle Exhibition and Convention Centre (NEX) on Friday December 10 have also been classified as close contacts and must get tested immediately and isolate for seven days.

People who were at Finnegan's Hotel from 6:30pm on Friday December 10 to 2:30am on Saturday December 11 are also close contacts and must get tested immediately and isolate for seven days.

Household contacts of these cases are also being asked to get tested and isolate until the close contact returns a negative test.