Residents in public housing at Hamilton South have been offered COVID-19 testing at a pop-up clinic, after two people tested positive.
The situation emerged as the Hunter New England region recorded seven new cases, among 1262 in NSW.
A Hunter New England Health statement said three cases were from Newcastle [Hamilton, Mayfield, Wallsend], two from Lake Macquarie [Balcolyn, Fishing Point] one from Port Stephens [Soldiers Point] and one from Mid Coast [Booral].
"All seven cases were infectious in the community. Six are linked to known exposures or family clusters, while one case is still under investigation.
"This brings the total number of cases in the district to 292 since August 5."
Ten cases in Hunter-New England are in hospital, with one in intensive care.
Health officials added that 505 close contacts are in isolation in the region.
The pop-up testing clinic at Hamilton South was offering swabs to "residents of community housing complexes in the area".
"This is in response to two newly confirmed cases who reside in housing complexes on Hassall Street and Glebe Road. Investigations and contact tracing are underway."
One of these cases will be recorded in numbers to be announced on Monday, as the notification happened after 8pm on Saturday.
NSW Health's sewage surveillance program detected viral fragments for the first time at Karuah and Dungog treatment plants.
"Anyone in these communities with any respiratory symptoms should immediately get tested and isolate, while they wait for their results," a statement said.
The Central Coast recorded 33 new cases, with 27 linked to known cases and 11 in the community while infectious. The source of infection for six cases is under investigation. The new cases in NSW covered the 24 hours to 8pm on Saturday, with seven people dying from the virus in this time including people in their 20s, 40s, 50s, 70s and 80s.
Beaches in Newcastle were busy at the weekend.
NSW chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant said outdoor environments were "probably the safest", if people were "keeping away from each other".
She urged people to be respectful and adhere to public health orders. "If they're walking along the beach, I would not want crowds, people engaging and people socialising," Dr Chant said.
From Monday, people who have received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine will be allowed more freedom.
"For those who live outside the LGAs of concern, up to five fully vaccinated adults can engage in outdoor recreation in a person's LGA or within 5km of home. Children under 12 will not be counted in this total," NSW Health said.
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said on Saturday that more restrictions could ease within the next month, including the return of community sport and outdoor gatherings increasing to 10 people, if vaccination rates continue to rise. Mr Hazzard was keen for sport to resume.
New casual contact venues have been confirmed in the Hunter.
Anyone who attended any of the following new venues listed on the specified dates and times is a casual contact (unless they have been contacted by NSW Health as close contacts) and must get tested and isolate until a negative test result is received.
- Woolworths (Pender Place), Maitland - Monday 6 September from 6.25pm to 6.50pm
- IGA Plus Liquor, Wangi Wangi - Monday 6 September from 3.50pm to 4pm
- The Reject Shop, Stockland Glendale - Tuesday 7 September from 10.55am to 11.05am
- Hot Bargain, Stockland Glendale - Tuesday 7 September from 10.45am to 10.55am
- Coles (Gowrie Street Mall), Singleton - Saturday 4 September from 6.10am to 6:35am
- Woolworths, Salamander Bay - Sunday 5 September from 4.45pm to 5pm
- Woolworths, Nelson Bay - Monday 30 August from 6am to 3pm; Friday 3 September from 4.30pm to 5pm; Saturday 4 September from 1.15pm to 1.40pm; Monday 6 September from 5.20pm to 5.50pm; Monday 6 September from 6.45pm to 7.15pm.
- Friendly Grocer, Stroud - Sunday 5 September from 3.15pm to 3.25pm
- DKS Butchery, Toronto - Thursday 9 September from 10.05am to 10.10am
