The Hunter New England Local Health District continues to be an area of concern after 97 cases of COVID-19 were reported in the 24 hours to 8pm last night.

Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant urged the region to remain vigilant.

“I would like to also highlight that we are seeing increasing cases in the Hunter area,” she said on Friday.

“We’ve seen 97 reported across Hunter New England and they are scattered across many areas.

“It is incredibly important that people in that area continue to come forward for testing and also, importantly, get vaccinated.”

Lake Macquarie remains the LGA with the highest level transmission with 27 fresh cases across Warners Bay (four), Mount Hutton (three), Hillsborough (two), Teralba (two), Tingara Heights (two), Windale (two), Gateshead (two), Belmont North, Cardiff Heights, Charlestown, Edgeworth, Macquarie Hills, Marmong Point, Speers Point, Toronto, Valentine and Yarrawonga Park.

The Cessnock LGA was also flagged as a suburb of concern after 23 infections were detected in Cessnock (eight), Paxton (five), Ellalong (four), Kurri Kurri (three), Aberdare, Kitchener and Weston.

Seventeen cases were added to Maitland’s total with six in Woodberry, four in Ashtonfield, two in Aberglassyn, two in South Maitland and discoveries in East Maitland, Metford and Telarah.

Singleton experienced a slight spike with six detections across Singleton, Singleton Heights and Hunterview.

Port Stephens found three in Medowie (two) and Raymond Terrace.

The Tamworth LGA detected eight, Mid-Coast found six and Gunnedah also added one new case.

At least 34 were infectious in the community and 65 are linked.

It takes the total number of cases in the current outbreak to 1,532. Of the 1,014 active infections, 30 are in hospital with four in ICU.

It comes as NSW reported 646 infections and the deaths of eleven people – two women and nine men.

Seven people were not vaccinated, three had received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and one had received two doses.

If you need to get tested for coronavirus there are more than 410 clinics open across NSW. For a complete list and booking details, visit: health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/covid-19/Pages/clinics.aspx

For our latest COVID-19 news, click here.

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