AT least three Hunter schools are closed today for contact tracing and cleaning after positive cases were identified in their communities.
The Department of Education said New Lambton South Public School and Wiripaang Public School would be closed on Friday.
The Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle said St Joseph's College in Lochinvar is also closed.
As previously reported, St Patrick's Primary School at Cessnock is already closed, after a fifth positive case in its school community.
A diocese spokesperson confirmed on Friday morning this number had since risen to six cases.
"Up until the closure of the school earlier today, we had three confirmed positive cases," the school wrote to families on Thursday night.
"In the last couple of hours we have been advised of two more positive confirmed cases, so as at 5.30pm this evening we are currently investigating five active positive cases.
"A huge thank you to everyone who is going out and getting tested and as a result of this huge testing regime that our St Patrick's community is undertaking, we are able to quickly identify any positive cases and act accordingly.
"At the moment these last four cases are still with NSW Health awaiting confirmation of contact tracing.
"As stated in earlier correspondence we have had a student who tested negative and two days later tested positive, so please if your child has the mildest of symptoms even if returning a previous negative test, please have your child or yourself retested."
Callaghan College at Wallsend has reopened.
