In a tragic start to the Easter break, two people from the region are among the latest COVID-related deaths in the state.

One woman in her 80s from the Lake Macquarie LGA and a man in his 80s from the Cessnock LGA has passed away.

Another female, also in her 80s, died in the Mid-Coast LGA.

It comes as the Hunter New England Local Health District (HNELHD) registered 2,096 new COVID cases in the past 24 hours.

That tally consisted of 1,385 rapid antigen tests (RATs) and 711 positive PCRs.

There are currently 71 patients receiving care in hospitals across the HNELHD, with two of them in intensive care.

Overall, the state detected 15,367 infections as of 4pm on Thursday 14 April, including 8,553 RATs and 6,814 PCRs.

Sadly, NSW Health also reported the deaths of another 13 people: seven men and six women.

Two were aged in their 60s, two were in their 70s, four were in their 80s and five 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.

Three people were from Broken Hill, two each from Sydney’s Inner West and south-west, while the other fatalities occurred in western Sydney, Sydney’s north, the Northern Rivers, the Central West, Queanbeyan and the Coffs Harbour area.

This brings the total number of COVID-19 related deaths in NSW since the beginning of the pandemic to 2,590.

There are currently 1,485 cases admitted to hospital, including 69 people in intensive care, 19 of whom require ventilation.

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