A YOUNG woman who has tested positive for COVID-19 is isolating in the Tuncurry area, Hunter New England Health has confirmed.
The woman, identified as a close contact, travelled from Newcastle to Tuncurry on August 5.
The region's lockdown, which has now been extended to at least a second week, began at 5pm that day.
The woman was tested that day and "COVID-19 was not detected".
"She subsequently tested positive for COVID-19 on a swab collected on 9 August," Hunter New England Health said in a statement.
Health authorities said police had approached the woman and her household contacts to ensure all isolation requirements had been met.
Her household contacts have been isolating since they were tested on August 9 and returned negative tests.
"Due to the individuals residential address, this case has been previously reported in the Newcastle LGA case numbers on the NSW Health website," the health authority said.
The clarification comes as the Hunter recorded 24 fresh cases on Thursday, taking its total to 77 before adjusting for the Tuncurry case.
