The Hunter New England's new COVID-19 cases by LGA

A quarter of the COVID-19 cases detected in NSW in the 24 hours to 8pm Friday were in the Hunter New England.

The local health district had 78 cases, more than any other in the state. South Western Sydney had 69 while Western Sydney had 37.

Forty-nine of the Hunter New England's cases were infectious in the community, 23 were in isolation during their infectious period and six remain under investigation.

There were 56 cases linked to known exposures or clusters, 16 were unlinked, and the source of six cases remains uncertain.

Of the new cases:

21 are from Lake Macquarie local government area (LGA);
20 are from Newcastle LGA;
15 are from Mid Coast LGA;
10 are from Cessnock LGA;
six are from Maitland LGA;
two are from Dungog LGA;
two are from Tamworth LGA;
one is from Port Stephens LGA; and
one is from Muswellbrook LGA.

Two people in NSW died with the virus in the reporting period.

More than 64,000 tests were undertaken and 469 people are in hospital, including 123 in intensive care.

Fragments of the virus have been detected in sewage at Inverell, where there are no known cases.

This is in addition to the recent detects at Guyra, Moree and Quirindi, where there are also no known cases.

"We continue to urge the communities across our District, but especially in these areas, to please, come forward for testing," a HNEH spokesperson said.

"Even if they are experiencing the mildest symptoms."