For the fourth consecutive day the Hunter New England Local Health District (HNELHD) has reported a COVID-19 related death.
It comes as a man in his 60s from Cessnock passed away with the virus.
Overnight, the district also recorded 2,491 new cases.
Of the new infections 558 are in Lake Macquarie, 465 are in Newcastle and 301 are in Maitland.
Port Stephens wasn’t too far behind with 234 cases while Cessnock added 202.
The Singleton (38), Muswellbrook (17), Upper Hunter (12) and Dungog (11) LGAs also remain on the list.
The district’s other cases are in the Mid Coast (175), Tamworth Regional (142), Armidale (105), Inverell (64), Moree Plains (40), Narrabri (27), Gunnedah (26), Tenterfield (17), Walcha (14), Glen Innes (13), Liverpool Plains (10) and Uralla (two) LGAs.
There are now 29,196 active infections in the district with 105 being cared for in hospital, 13 are in ICU.
NSW as a whole reported 92,264 new cases as the state rushed to record their positive rapid antigen test (RAT) result yesterday.
The number includes 61,387 positive RAT results covering the period since 1 January, including 50,729 in the last seven days, as well as 30,877 PCR tests.
This dramatic rise comes on top of another grim milestone as the state reported a record 22 lives lost in the 24 hours to 8pm on Wednesday.
Thirteen men and nine women were among the death toll – 14 were vaccinated.
- With AAP
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