With numerous “hot spots” in Newcastle, the Hunter New England Local Health District (HNELHD) has detected 425 new COVID-19 cases overnight.

Two have been confirmed to be infected with the Omicron variant, with one being linked to The Argyle House cluster.

Five active cases are being cared for in hospitals, with three people in ICU.

Of the latest batch of infections, 116 were revealed in the Newcastle LGA, while the Lake Macquarie and Maitland LGAs registered 48 and 28 respectively.

Eleven cases were uncovered in the Port Stephens LGA, seven in the Cessnock LGA, five in the Singleton LGA and one in the Dungog LGA.

Others appeared in the Mid-Coast LGA (five), Inverell LGA (two) and Tamworth LGA (one).

Due to an increased number of COVID-19 infections within the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie LGAs, as well as a bigger demand for more testing clinics in the areas, the following clinics will be operating under extended hours for the remainder of this week:

• Wickham Histopath Pathology Drive-through Clinic (42 Honeysuckle Drive, Wickham): until Sunday, from 8am to 8pm

• Adamstown Laverty Pathology Drive-through Clinic (91 Victoria Street, Adamstown): until Sunday, from 7.30am to 6pm

Meanwhile, NSW recorded a further 804 locally-acquired cases as of 8pm on Monday 13 December.

A total of 85 infections with the Omicron variant have been confirmed in the state, too.

Sadly, NSW Health reported the death of a woman in her 60s from the Albury area who died at Goulburn Valley Health hospital in Victoria.

She was not vaccinated.

NSW Health remains concerned about the escalation in COVID-19 transmission in the Newcastle area, with venues linked to cases who are likely to have the Omicron variant of concern.

It last night alerted the public to a new venue, Finnegan’s Hotel, in Darby Street.

Anyone who attended that venue from 6.30pm on Friday 10 December and 2.30am on Saturday 11 December is a close contact and must immediately get tested and isolate for seven days.

All household personnel of close contacts must also be tested and self-isolate until a negative result is received by everyone in the premises.

Anyone who attended The Argyle House nightclub from 9pm on Wednesday 8 December to 3am on Thursday 9 December has been assessed as a close contact and must immediately get tested, and isolate for 7 days, as well.

Please then minimise your mixing with other people and avoid high risk settings for the next seven days.

Nearly 700 people checked into the venue and Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said it was “incredibly important” that anyone who was at the venue gets a test, “given the high transmission at this venue”.

From Wednesday 15 December, unvaccinated people in NSW will be free to mingle with everyone at pubs, cafés, gyms and shops as a swathe of restrictions are lifted.

Density limits will be scrapped at venues and masks will no longer be mandatory in shops but will be required on public transport and planes as well as for indoors front-of-house unvaccinated hospitality staff.

Check-ins will only be required in high-risk settings like hospitals, pubs, clubs and gyms and singing and dancing will be permitted indoors and outdoors for everyone.

If you need to get tested for COVID-19 there are more than 450 clinics open across NSW.

For a complete list and booking details, visit: health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/covid-19/Pages/clinics.aspx

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