Hunter residents urged to stay up to date on COVID shot ahead of latest wave

BY DAKOTA TAIT

Residents across the Hunter and New South Wales are being urged to make sure they're up to date with their COVID-19 vaccinations, as a new wave of infections continues to grow.

NSW Health is calling on the community to practise COVID-safe behaviours like social distancing and mask wearing.

There's concern the Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants could cause the number of serious cases and deaths to skyrocket.

Health Minister Brad Hazzard says 56 percent of COVID-related deaths this year were people with two or fewer doses.

"We are at the beginning of the third wave of Omicron which is likely to peak in late July or early August. This increase in community transmission brings with it greatly increased risks for those not up to date with their vaccines," he said.  

"The best way you can protect yourself from serious illness or worse is to get every vaccination that is available to you."

Lake Macquarie woman passes away with COVID

BY DAKOTA TAIT

The Hunter New England Health District has recorded 1,636 new COVID cases today and one death.

669 of those cases were from PCR tests and 967 were from RAT tests.

Sadly, a woman in her 80s from Lake Macquarie has passed away with the virus.

This brings the region to 53 cases in hospital, with three people in intensive care.

Across New South Wales, health has recorded 12,632 new COVID cases and 38 deaths.

This brings the State to 2,578 cases in hospital, with 160 in intensive care.

41.7 percent of adults have now received three shots of a COVID-19 vaccine.

 

Centenarian passes away with COVID in Hunter New England

BY DAKOTA TAIT

The Hunter New England Health District has recorded 1,636 new COVID cases today and three deaths.

791 of those cases were from PCR tests and 845 were from RAT tests.

Sadly, one woman and two men have passed away with the virus.

One was in their 60s, one was in their 90s and one was 100.

 

One was from Tamworth LGA, one was from Newcastle LGA and one was from Singleton LGA.

This brings the region to 59 cases in hospital, with two people in intensive care.

Across New South Wales, health has recorded 11,807 new COVID cases and 27 deaths.

This brings the State to 2,622 cases in hospital, with 170 in intensive care.

40.6 percent of adults have now received three shots of a COVID-19 vaccine.

 

Steady COVID numbers in the Hunter, while State tallies continue to fall

BY DAKOTA TAIT

The Hunter New England Health District has recorded 1,501 new COVID cases today and two deaths.

396 of those cases were from PCR tests and 1,105 were from RAT tests.

Sadly, a man and a woman have passed away with the virus.

 

One was from Dungog and one was from Mid Coast.

One was in their 70s and one was in their 80s.

This brings the region to 64 cases in hospital, with three people in intensive care.

Across New South Wales, health has recorded 12,818 new COVID cases and 30 deaths.

This brings the State to 2,749 cases in hospital, with 186 in intensive care.

39.7 percent of adults have now received three shots of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Two COVID deaths in Maitland

BY DAKOTA TAIT

The Hunter New England Health District has recorded 1,193 new COVID cases today and four deaths.

465 of those cases were from PCR tests and 728 were from RAT tests.

Sadly, a man and a woman from Maitland have passed away with the virus.

One was in their 70s and one was in their 90s.

This brings the region to 73 cases in hospital, with seven people in intensive care.

Across New South Wales, health has recorded 13,026 new COVID cases and 27 deaths.

This brings the State to 2,779 cases in hospital, with 185 in intensive care.

39.4 percent of adults have now received three shots of a COVID-19 vaccine.

 

Four deaths across the Hunter amid low COVID cases

BY DAKOTA TAIT

The Hunter New England Health District has recorded 1,357 new COVID cases today and four deaths.

430 of those cases were from PCR tests and 927 were from RAT tests.

Sadly, three men have passed away in Lake Macquarie and one in Maitland. 

 

One was in his 70s, two were in their 80s and one was in his 90s.

This brings the region to 60 cases in hospital, with seven people in intensive care.

Across New South Wales, health has recorded 13,333 new COVID cases and 35 deaths.

This brings the State to 2,737 cases in hospital, with 189 in intensive care.

36.4 percent of adults have now received three shots of a COVID-19 vaccine.

 

Steady COVID cases across the Hunter, but two deaths in Lake Macquarie

BY DAKOTA TAIT

The Hunter New England Health District has recorded 2,048 new COVID cases today and two deaths.

1,090 of those cases were from PCR tests and 958 were from RAT tests.

Sadly, a man and a woman from the Lake Macquarie area have passed away.

One was in their 70s and one was in their 80s.

This brings the region to 55 cases in hospital, with seven people in intensive care.

Across New South Wales, health has recorded 17,316 new COVID cases and 29 deaths.

This brings the State to 2,722 cases in hospital, with 181 in intensive care.

36.2 percent of adults have now received three shots of a COVID-19 vaccine.

 

COVID cases steady across the Hunter

BY DAKOTA TAIT

The Hunter New England Health District has recorded 1,867 new COVID cases today and one death.

1,108 of those cases were from PCR tests and 759 were from RAT tests.

Sadly, a man in his 80s from Tamworth has passed away.

This brings the region to 81 cases in hospital, with seven people in intensive care.

Across New South Wales, health has recorded 18,512 new COVID cases and 29 deaths.

This brings the State to 2,943 cases in hospital, with 183 in intensive care.

33.8 percent of adults have now received three shots of a COVID-19 vaccine.

 

No new deaths to report in Hunter New England

BY DAKOTA TAIT

The Hunter New England Health District has recorded 1,512 new COVID cases today and no deaths.

722 of those cases were from PCR tests and 790 were from RAT tests.

 

Sadly, four men passed away in Sunday's reporting period.

This brings the region to 92 cases in hospital, with five people in intensive care.

Across New South Wales, health has recorded 15,091 new COVID cases and 24 deaths.

This brings the State to 2,816 cases in hospital, with 196 in intensive care.

33.5 percent of adults have now received three shots of a COVID-19 vaccine.

 

Three COVID deaths across the Hunter, amid record NSW numbers

BY DAKOTA TAIT

The Hunter New England Health District has recorded 2,738 new COVID cases today and 3 deaths.

1,745 of those cases were from PCR tests and 993 were from RAT tests.

 

Sadly, two men and one woman have passed away with the virus.

Two were from Newcastle and one was from Singleton.

One was aged in their 60s, one in their 70s, and one in their 90s.

This brings the region to 100 cases in hospital, with six people in intensive care.

Across New South Wales, health has recorded 25,168 new COVID cases and 46 deaths.

This brings the State to 2,743 cases in hospital, with 209 in intensive care.

30.3 percent of adults have now received three shots of a COVID-19 vaccine.

 

 

Three Lake Macquarie men pass away from COVID

BY DAKOTA TAIT

The Hunter New England Health District has recorded 2,911 new COVID cases today and 3 deaths.

1,645 of those cases were from PCR tests and 1,266 were from RAT tests.

This brings the region to 92 cases in hospital, with five people in intensive care. 

 

Sadly, three men in Lake Macquarie have passed away due to the virus.

One was aged in his 60s, one was in his 70s and, one was in his 80s.

 

Across New South Wales, health has recorded 30,825 new COVID cases and 25 deaths.

This brings the State to 2,781 cases in hospital, with 212 in intensive care.

29 percent of adults have now received three shots of a COVID-19 vaccine.

 

3,189 new COVID cases across Hunter New England

BY DAKOTA TAIT

The Hunter New England Health District has recorded 3,189 new COVID cases today and 1 death.

1,986 of those cases were from PCR tests and 1,203 were from RAT tests.

This brings the region to 100 cases in hospital, with six people in intensive care. 

Sadly, a man in his 90s from Tamworth has passed away.

Across New South Wales, health has recorded 32,297 new COVID cases and 32 deaths.

This brings the State to 2,863 cases in hospital, with 217 in intensive care.

27.8 percent of adults have now received three shots of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Four men pass away in the Hunter, with record COVID deaths across New South Wales

BY DAKOTA TAIT

The Hunter New England Health District has recorded 1,035 new COVID cases today and 4 deaths.

This brings the region to 108 cases in hospital, with seven people in intensive care. 

Sadly, authorities are reporting the deaths of four men, three in their 80s and one in his 90s.

One was from the Lake Macquarie LGA, one was from the Newcastle LGA, one was from the Mid Coast LGA and one was from the Tamworth Regional LGA.

Across New South Wales, health has recorded 29,830 new COVID cases and 36 deaths.

This brings the State to 2,850 cases in hospital, with 209 in intensive care.

More than 26 percent of adults have now received three shots of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Hunter Teachers Hoping For Priority in Vaccine Rollout

BY DAKOTA TAIT

The Independent Education Union is pushing for teachers across the Hunter and the State to be prioritised in NSW's vaccination campaign.

There's concern about the possibility of schools becoming local COVID hotspots, after thousands of staff and students in Sydney were forced to isolate over the past week.

NSW/ACT IEU Secretary Mark Northam says speeding up the vaccine rollout for teachers would be "significant step forward" for keeping schools open.

"Certainly not displacing frontline health workers, we're not suggesting that at all," Mr Northam said. 

"But we are suggesting that teachers should be prioritised and support staff to be vaccinated so that schools can operate smoothly and well in Term 3." 

The Union's also calling on the Government to provide paid vaccination leave for teachers and staff to book their shot in their busy schedules.

"The communities that our members serve, their appreciation of the role and function of a teacher during what's been a fairly tumultuous year in education, schools have achieved magnificent things," Mr Northam said.

"I think it's time for a bit of repayment of the good stocks that teachers and support staff have built up."

Pandemic Triggers Surge in Gambling at Hunter Pubs and Clubs

BY DAKOTA TAIT

New data reveals Hunter pubs, clubs and hotels saw a surge in poker machine revenue in the second half of 2020, despite fewer machines being in use due to pandemic restrictions.

The latest figures published by Liquor and Gaming NSW showed an almost 9 percent rise in pokie profits statewide compared to the same period in 2019.

Liquor and Gaming NSW also noted that venues were closed for ten weeks from March to May due to the pandemic lockdown, putting a significant damper on profits in that period.

But venues across the Hunter quickly bounced back, with profits leaping 92 percent from July to December against the pandemic-affected first half of the year. 

Profits at Newcastle's clubs and hotels rose by over $40 million to over $87 million in the final six months of 2020.

Cessnock venues saw one of the biggest jumps in revenue, which rose by 112 percent.