The Hunter region has recorded two new cases of COVID-19 and one death in the 24 hours to 8pm last night.
A Newcastle man in is 80s sadly passed away after contracting the virus at the RFBI Hawkins Masonic Village in Edgeworth.
He died at John Hunter Hospital and had received two doses of a vaccine but had some serious underlying medical conditions.
He is the second death linked to an outbreak at this aged care facility.
Of the new cases, one is in Toronto and the other is in East Branxton, they are both linked to previously reported infections and one was infectious in the community.
Deputy Premier John Barilaro confirmed the Toronto case was linked to the Costco cluster.
The two new cases take the total number in the current outbreak to 163. There are 151 active cases, 32 are currently being cared for in hospital. Zero are in intensive care.
NSW as a whole reported 818 infections and three deaths.
The deaths include the man from Newcastle, a man in his 80s from southwest Sydney who died at Liverpool Hospital, and a woman in her 80s who died at Campbelltown Hospital.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian says a record 738,000 people got vaccinated last week – a record for the state.
“An outstanding result. I want to thank everybody for coming forward. We are up to 5.9 million jabs in NSW,” she said on Monday.
“I set a target of six million by the end of the month. We will be at least one week ahead of schedule.”
New face mask rules also came into effect today, Hunter residents are now required to wear face coverings indoors and outdoors at all places that are not their home unless they are exercising.
It remains vital that anyone who has any symptoms or is a close or casual contact, isolates and is tested immediately.
There are more than 410 testing clinics open across NSW. For a complete list and booking details, please visit: health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/covid-19/Pages/clinics.aspx
– Elizabeth Symington with AAP
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