The Hunter New England Health District has reported 30 new cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm Friday. They included 16 new cases in Lake Macquarie, seven in Newcastle, five in Maitland, one in Cessnock and one in Port Stephens.
The Central Coast has recorded 29 new cases in the same time period. And there were a further 75 cases in the Illawarra region, including 47 new cases in Wollongong.
Six people have died of COVID-19 in the state overnight. The four women and two men, aged in their 40s, 60s, 70s and 80s, were from Western and South West Sydney, Dr Jeremy McAnulty - the head of NSW Health's COVID response branch - announced Saturday morning.
The state has administered 8.7 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine to date and recorded 1331 locally acquired cases.
There were 129,954 COVID tests administered in the reporting period.
81.2 per cent of the state's population, aged over 16 years, have received at least one dose of a COVID vaccine, and 50.6 per cent have received two doses.
NSW hospitals are currently treating 1219 people for COVID-19, Dr McAnulty said, including 233 people in intensive care and 123 people who require ventilation.
Of the number of intensive care patients, Dr McAnulty said 173 were unvaccinated.
COVID EXPOSURE SITES: Hunter New England Health's full list of Hunter COVID exposure sites has been updated today
Meanwhile, stay-at-home orders were lifted in the Upper Hunter earlier this week allowing gatherings of up to five people indoors and up to 20 people outdoors, not inclusive of children aged 12 and under.
The full list of new freedoms for Muswellbrook, Singleton and the state's Upper Hunter local government areas includes:
Gatherings in the home and public spaces:
- Up to five visitors will be allowed in a home (not including children 12 and under).
- Up to 20 people can gather in outdoor settings.
Venues including hospitality, retail stores and gyms:
- Hospitality venues can reopen subject to one person per 4sqm inside and one person per 2sqm outside, with standing while drinking permitted outside.
- Retail stores can reopen under the one person per 4sqm rule.
- Personal services such as hairdressers and nail salons can open with one person per 4sqm, capped at five clients per premises.
- Gyms and indoor recreation facilities can open under the one person per 4sqm rule and can offer classes for up to 20 people.
- Sporting facilities including swimming pools can reopen.
Schools:
- Schools will re-open with Level 3 COVIDSafe measures in place.
Stadiums, theatres and major outdoor recreation facilities:
- Major recreation outdoor facilities including stadiums, racecourses, theme parks and zoos can reopen with one person per 4sqm, capped at 5,000 people.
- Up to 500 people can attend ticketed and seated outdoor events.
- Indoor entertainment and information facilities including cinemas, theatres, music halls, museums and galleries can reopen with one person per 4sqm or 75 per cent fixed seated capacity.
Weddings, funerals and places of worship:
- Up to 50 guests can attend weddings, with dancing permitted and eating and drinking only while seated.
- Up to 50 guests can attend funerals, with eating and drinking while seated.
- Churches and places of worship to open subject to one person per 4sqm rule, with no singing.
Travel:
- Caravan parks and camping grounds can open.
- Carpooling will be permitted.
Masks:
- Masks will remain mandatory for all indoor public venues, including public transport, front-of-house hospitality, retail and business premises, on planes and at airports.
- Only hospitality staff will be required to wear a mask when outdoors.
- Children aged under 12 will not need to wear a mask indoors.
COVID NEWS TODAY: SEPTEMBER 18, 2021
