Tragically, COVID-19 is continuing to claim lives in the Hunter New England Local Health District (HNELHD) after three deaths were reported today.

One was from Singleton, one was from Newcastle and another was from Tamworth.

Health officials say one was aged in their 60s, another was in their 90s and one was 100.

It’s the ninth day in a row where a death has been reported. Since Tuesday 25 January 22 lives have been lost.

COVID-19 cases also continue to rise after 1,616 were detected in the past 24 hours. Hospitalisations have dropped to 59 from 64 and two people are in ICU.

It comes as NSW recorded 11,807 new cases from 6,314 RATs and 5,943 PCR tests.

Unfortunately, 27 lives were also lost after 12 women and 15 men passed away with COVID-19.

Including the Hunter deaths, one person was in their 50s, three were in their 60s, three people were in their 70s, 11 were in their 80s, eight were in their 90s and one was aged 100.

Four people who died had received three doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, 14 people had received two doses and nine people were not vaccinated.

Across the state 2,622 people are in hospital, 170 are in intensive care.

More than 40.5% of adults have received their third dose of a COVID-19 vaccine while 40.3% of children aged five to 11 have received one jab.

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