THE Hunter health district's COVID tally has grown by 65 cases in Tuesday's update.
Lake Macquarie's case numbers continue to surge, with 27 of the new cases falling within that local government footprint.
It is a concerning sign coupled with vaccination rates in the region lagging behind the state, according to the most recent data.
Maitland had 12, Newcastle had eight, Cessnock had five, Muswellbrook and Singleton had one each and Port Stephens had two.
There were two cases in Midcoast, one in Liverpool Plains and six in Gunnedah.
Four of Newcastle's cases fell in Merewether. Wallsend, Mayfield, Shortland and Elermore Vale recorded single cases.
At Lake Macquarie there were four cases in Charlestown, three in Edgeworth and two apiece in Mount Hutton, Gateshead, Morisset and Belmont.
Toronto, Blackalls Park, Warners Bay, Windale, Dora Creek, Woodrising, Cameron Park, Cardiff Heights, Caves Beach, Kahibah, Morisset Park and Wakefield all added cases.
Maitland had five more cases in Woodberry, three in Ashtonfield and two in Rutherford. Maitland and Gillieston Heights all had a case each.
Cessnock had one case in Abermain, one in Cliftleigh and three in the city itself, while Singleton and Muswellbrook South both added single cases.
Port Stephens' pair of cases were split between Lemon Tree Passage and Nelson Bay.
NSW recorded 608 cases in the same period, ending 8pm on Monday night.
Five men and a woman died across the state during the 24-hour period. NSW Health said one was in their 50s, two people were in their 60s, three people were in their 70s, and one person was in their 80s."
"Five people were not vaccinated, and two people had received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine," the health service said.
NSW is inching close to 90 per cent first dose for people 16 and older, with 88.5 per cent having received one jab.
67.5 per cent of the adult population was fully vaccinated by midnight on Sunday.
