The NSW Hunter region will be locked down from 5pm today until midnight next Thursday after several positive cases of COVID-19 were detected in the area.
The local government areas included in the snap lockdown are Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, Port Stephens, Cessnock, Dungog, Singleton and Muswellbrook.
“I want to confirm that the arrangements in the eight local government areas will be exactly the same as exists in Greater Sydney. So that means, no school and the same stay at home provisions apply,” Gladys Berejiklian said this morning.
The state’s chief health officer said concerns were growing for a growing number of areas of regional NSW.
“Obviously we’re very concerned about regional NSW and that’s why we’ve got restrictions in place in relation to mask wearing,” said Dr Kerry Chant.
“The risk is everywhere and as you’re aware, Queensland is also experiencing a different Delta outbreak, so we’re conscious of risks in the northern part [of NSW] because we are all connected and it is impossible to absolutely prevent any movement.”
NSW recorded 262 new locally-acquired COVID-19 cases today, and, sadly, five deaths – three people in their 60s, one person in their 70s and one person in their 80s.
NSW Health says four of the five people who died had not been vaccinated, while one person had received a single vaccine dose.
