The Hunter has added 59 fresh cases, with 623 COVID infections detected across NSW in the 24 hours to 8pm on Sunday.
40 Hunter cases were linked and 26 were infectious in the community, with the infectious status of eight unknown.
Cessnock and Lake Macquarie had 40 cases between them, more than double the daily case number of any other Hunter LGA.
There were six cases in Paxton, five in Cessnock, four in Kurri Kurri and one each in Aberdare, Cliftleigh, East Branxton, Elrington, Heddon Greta and Weston.
For Lake Macquarie there were four cases in Morisset, two each in Valentine, Gateshead and Blacksmiths and one each in Balcolyn, Belmont, Cardiff, Charlestown, Dora Creek, Marks Point, Seahampton and Warners Bay.
Maitland had eight cases, two each in Maitland and Thornton. Aberglasslyn, Telarah, Tenambit and Rutherford also added cases.
In Newcastle no suburb had double cases, with the city's seven COVID infections spread between Adamstown, Hamilton South, Mayfield, Merewether, Shortland, Wallsend and Waratah.
Muswellbrook had a single case while Port Stephens added two in Raymond Terrace and one at Anna Bay.
The region has 22 active cases in hospital and one in intensive care.
Across NSW there were also six deaths in the daily period, three women and three men.
The state's health authorities did not hold the usual 11am press conference on the public holiday.
NSW Health said one of those who died was in their 40s, three were in their 60s, one person was in their 70s and one person was in their 90s.
"Three people were from south-western Sydney, two people were from western Sydney and one person was from the Nepean Blue Mountains area," NSW Health said.
The region's numbers come in addition to 32 Central Coast cases and another three in Mid North Coast local health district.
Statewide 88.4 per cent of people aged 16 or over have had a first dose, while 67.1 per cent were fully vaccinated by midnight on Saturday.
Belmont's vaccination hub was among two Hunter exposure sites identified overnight on Sunday, with Muswellbrook McDonalds added to the list on Monday.
The Maitland Street fast food restaurant was an exposure site on Wednesday September 29 from 1pm to 1.20pm.
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