The Newcastle and Hunter community has been praised for following the COVID-19 rules after one new infection was detected overnight.
NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro said it was a good example of how important the lockdown is.
“Going back a few weeks ago we had days in Newcastle that we were reporting over 20 cases a day or ten cases a day and it clearly shows that the lockdown and the restrictions put in place in the regions and the extension of those lockdowns has actually protected that community and more importantly lowered case numbers,” he said.
“It’s a great example of the local health district and the team on the ground but also the community doing the right thing.”
It comes after three days of registering less than 10 cases. The new infection is from Jesmond and is linked to a previously reported case.
It takes the total number of cases in the current outbreak to 154, with 32 cases requiring care in hospital, zero are in ICU.
However, the region is urged to remain vigilant after Hunter New England Health encouraged more people to come forward for testing.
In the past week testing numbers have decreased by 60%, from over 16,000 tests a day to around 7,500.
The district said to ensure there are no unidentified cases in the community, it needs to increase testing for an easing of stay-at-home restrictions to be considered.
It comes as the state recorded the highest daily case numbers since the beginning of the pandemic with 825 new infections.
At least 58 of those cases were infectious in the community and another three deaths were also reported.
Anyone with even the mildest of symptoms is urged to get tested.
There are more than 410 testing clinics open across NSW. For a complete list and booking details, please visit:Â health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/covid-19/Pages/clinics.aspx
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