Raymond Terrace has recorded one new positive case amidst a record high 919 confirmed COVID-19 infections in the state last night.
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In the Hunter New England Health District, the Cessnock, Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and Port Stephens LGAs each recorded one positive case in the 24 hours up to 8pm on Tuesday.
The Port Stephens case is located in Raymond Terrace and was not infectious while in the community, the health authority said.
All four new cases are linked to previously reported cases. Three of the four were in isolation throughout their infectious period. The Lake Macquarie case, located in Windale, was infectious while they were in the community.
HNEH said a confirmed COVID-19 case had been living in an apartment complex located at 17-19 James Street, Windale.
"This case contracted their illness after travelling to Sydney and is not linked to the Costco cluster. The confirmed case is isolating off-site, and the district is arranging urgent onsite testing for affected residents. All residents have been contacted and advised to isolate until tested. It is essential that anyone who visited the apartment complex from the evening of Friday, August 20 to the morning of Tuesday, August 24 get tested and isolate until a negative result is received," the health authority advised.
The four new cases takes HNEH's total number in the current outbreak to 168. Of those, 114 are active cases, nine of which are located in the Port Stephens LGA (in the four weeks up to August 24).
Within the HENEH District, 31 people are currently being cared for in hospital. None are in the ICU.
HNEH said 714 close contacts of confirmed cases are in isolation.
In her morning briefing on Wednesday, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the state recorded 919 cases and two deaths in the 24 hours to 8pm on Tuesday. She added that the state has now surpassed the 6 million vaccination rate mark.
"We now have 6.1 million jabs given in New South Wales and nearly one-third of our population is fully vaccinated, it's hovering at 32% or thereabouts which is great if we keep these rates up we will hit further milestones," she said.
As of Tuesday, Port Stephens had two venues of concern.
Anyone who visited Woolworths in Terrace Central between 10am and 10.05am or TerryWhite Chemmart inside the shopping centre between 10am and 10.15 am on Sunday, August 15 is being urged to get tested immediately and self-isolate until they get a negative result.
Deputy Premier John Barilaro said the Hunter is "unlikely" to escape from lockdown - due to lift on August 28 - even if new daily coronavirus case numbers fall to zero.
Mr Barilaro said on Monday that the state's health advisers would recommend waiting out a 14-day incubation period from the date of the last positive case before the region emerged from stay-at-home orders.
The Hunter's lockdown fate is expected to be officially made on Thursday after the state's crisis cabinet weighed health advice against the government's desire to reopen areas as soon as safely possible.
Mr Barilaro said he would prefer to see a 14-day or 28-day extension to lockdowns rather than week-to-week decisions which gave the community little opportunity to plan for the future.
The government's criteria for reopening regions include an absence of virus traces in sewage, zero cases and no positive tests in adjoining districts.
Sewage testing on August 18 showed high levels of the virus at Shortland, Morpeth, Farley and Edgeworth and detections at Burwood Beach, Raymond Terrace and Dora Creek.
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