Coronavirus cases appear to be "settling" in Newcastle, according to New South Wales chief health officer Kerry Chant, who has praised the region for its response to a recent outbreak.
Just one new case was detected in the Hunter region today.
The case is a Newcastle resident linked to an aged care cluster who was not infectious in the community.
It comes after two new cases were recorded yesterday, and eight in total were announced over the weekend.
"Newcastle is settling and I just want to thank the response in that region to the public health advice," Dr Chant.
There are 143 active cases in the Hunter New England district, and none are in intensive care.
But local health authorities remain on alert for more infections after a COVID cluster at Costco's Boolaroo sites. That cluster remains at six cases.
A Costco worker from south-west Sydney worked five days at the precinct last week before testing positive to the virus.
Deputy Premier John Barilaro says he will raise the issue of Sydneysiders working in regional areas at a Crisis Cabinet Committee, but admits the government may have to "let it run its course".
"It's something I'll take back to Crisis Cabinet but at this stage we can manage it with the changes that we've made," he said.
Costco situation 'disheartening'
More than 700 close and casual contacts were identified from the Costco work sites in Boolaroo, and people who were at the membership office or the petrol station have been asked to get re-tested for COVID by the end of today.
The suburb is in the ward of Lake Macquarie Councillor David Belcher, who says residents "have every right to feel let down".
"Residents of the Hunter have done a tremendous job over the past couple of weeks following protocols and guidelines when it comes to COVID, so seeing this occur has been quite disheartening and disappointing.
"Don't let this get you down. Please maintain the appropriate protocols, get vaccinated, get tested and get vaccinated as quickly as you can."
