The Riverina region in south-west New South Wales has recorded its first COVID death in more than a year.
The Murrumbidgee Local Health District (MLHD) released a statement that said a woman in her 70s from the Edward River Council area died in a Melbourne hospital.
"The woman had received her first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine," it said.
"She was diagnosed with COVID-19 after presenting to Deniliquin Hospital.
"MLHD extends our sincere condolences to the woman's family and loved ones, and the whole Edward River community."
Vax push at 'critical' moment
It is the first death in the region since the Delta outbreak began and the second since the pandemic hit the MLHD.
"This brings the total number of cases in the Federation local government area (LGA) to one, Edward River LGA to four, Griffith LGA to one, Hilltops LGA to 25 and Albury LGA to eight, with a total of 39 cases and one death in the MLHD since the start of the current outbreak," the MLHD said.
Chief executive Jill Ludford said time was of the essence for authorities working to stop the virus from getting out of control.
"The next few days will be really critical for managing outbreak across our region," she said.
A vaccination campaign is underway to boost immunisation rates rates in Deniliquin, the largest community in the Edward River LGA.
The latest government data shows 60 per cent of residents aged 15 and older have received their first dose and 45 per cent are fully vaccinated.
The figures stand in stark contrast to rates in the neighbouring Murray River LGA.
"The Murray River LGA have absolutely blitzed it in our region — right out of the ballpark," Ms Ludford said.
"They're sitting at over 95 per cent of people in that LGA that have come forward and had their first vaccination."
Ms Ludford said 80 per cent of residents in the Murray River LGA were fully vaccinated and that the MLHD was tracking well with vaccination overall.
"There's quite a lot of LGAs in our region that are sitting at 94 per cent," she said.
"We've got Hay, Hilltops, Cootamundra, Gundagai, a whole range of LGAs who are doing really well."
