More than 220 new COVID-19 cases have been recorded in NSW’s Hunter New England Local Health District, as clusters linked to nightclubs, pubs and parties in the Newcastle area spread.
As reported earlier this morning, there are 804 new virus cases reported in NSW.
Genomic sequencing has determined an additional 21 cases are the Omicron variant, bringing the total number of cases with the new variant of concern in the state to 85.
“However, NSW Health expects further Omicron cases to be confirmed in the coming days as results of genomic testing are confirmed,” the ministry said in a statement.
This is because the bulk of today’s 224 Hunter cases are believed to likely have the Omicron variant, due to their links to a party at the Argyle House nightclub at Newcastle earlier this month (which was attended by a person who had been on a Sydney Harbour cruise where the variant was circulating).
So far, two active cases in the Hunter district have the Omicron variant.
Local health authorities are asking anyone who attended Argyle House between 9pm Wednesday and 3am Thursday, or Finnegan’s Hotel between 6pm Friday and 2.30am on Saturday, to test and isolate for one week.
Of the 224 cases in the Hunter, 116 are from Newcastle local government area, 48 are from Lake Macquarie LGA and 28 are from Maitland. Higher case numbers were also reported in south-west Sydney (123 new infections) western Sydney (102 new infections), south-eastern Sydney (99 new infections) and central Sydney (85 new infections).
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the rapid increase in Hunter cases was a “telling reminder” that the pandemic was not over, urging people to exercise caution when the state reopens to unvaccinated people tomorrow.
NSW reported one new virus death today: a woman in her 60s from Albury who died at Goulburn Valley Hospital in Victoria. She had not received the COVID-19 vaccine.
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