For the seventh consecutive day, the Hunter New England Local Health District (HNELHD) has recorded the highest number of new COVID-19 cases in the state.

While NSW registered a total of 6,184 positive test results as of 4pm on Sunday 13 February – including 4,040 RATs and 2,144 PCRs, HNELHD detected 942 infections of its own.

HNELHD verified the death of a man in his 90s from the Maitland LGA, too.

Yesterday, a woman in her 70s from the Singleton LGA and another in her 80s from the Port Stephens LGA passed away.

Of the 942 positive test results in HNELHD, 648 were RATs and 294 PCRs.

There are currently 36 patients receiving care in hospitals across the HNELHD, with three in ICU.

NSW Health is also encouraging everyone who is eligible to receive a vaccination or their booster dose to book into a clinic or another provider without delay.

Sadly, there were a further 13 COVID-19 related deaths in the state: eight men and five women.

One person was in their 60s, four were in their 70s, four 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.

Four people were fully-vaccinated, five had received two doses, and four were unvaccinated.

Two people were from western Sydney, two were from south-western Sydney, two were from Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs, two were from Sydney’s Inner West, two were from the Riverina region, one was from northern Sydney, one was from southern Sydney and one was from southern NSW.

This brings the total number of deaths in NSW since the beginning of the pandemic to 1,729.

There are currently 1,649 COVID-19 cases admitted to hospital, including 100 people in intensive care, 47 of whom require ventilation.

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