COVID-19 case numbers surpassed the 2,000 mark again in the Hunter New England Local Health District (HNELHD).

The region detected 2,068 new infections overnight, which consisted of 1,616 rapid antigen tests (RATs) and 452 positive PCRs.

HNELHD also remained the state’s worst affected area, with Western Sydney next with 1,896 cases.

There are 90 COVID-19 patients receiving care in hospitals across the district, and three in intensive care.

Overall, the state registered a further 15,334 infections as of 4pm on Monday 11 April.

That figure included 9,915 RATs and 5,419 PCRs.

Sadly, NSW Health reported the deaths of 11 people: nine women and two men.

Two were aged in their 60s, five were in their 80s and four were in their 90s.

Older age is a significant risk factor for serious illness and death for COVID-19, particularly when combined with significant underlying health conditions.

Of the 10 people who died over the age of 65, six had received three doses of a vaccine, three were double-jabbed and one was unvaccinated.

The person under 65 years of age who died was not vaccinated but suffered significant underlying health conditions.

Four people were from Sydney’s south and three were from Western Sydney, while the other fatalities occurred in Sydney’s east, south-western Sydney, northern Sydney and the Central Coast.

This brings the total number of COVID-19 related deaths in NSW since the beginning of the pandemic to 2,545.

There are currently 1,584 people admitted to hospital, including 70 in intensive care, 24 of whom require ventilation.

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