Covid update: Lock down continues in parts of the Hunter

THE Premier has confirmed the Singleton Shire area and other Hunter local government areas placed into lock down last week, will have another seven days in lock down following growing case numbers in Newcastle.

There have been 345 new cases of Covid confirmed in the past 24 hours, with 24 new cases in the Newcastle area.

Of the 24 new cases in Newcastle, 11 were residents of an aged care facility in Edgeworth and 3 are staff members.

There have been no confirmed cases in Armidale, Tamworth or Northern Rivers overnight, but 5 cases have been confirmed in Dubbo and 1 in Walgett.

Please note: The Upper Hunter Shire area is not in lock down, however residents who have been to an affected local government area (in 7 day lock down) on or since July 31, need to follow stay at home orders for seven days. If people have visited, for example, a Sydney LGA which is under greater lock down, they need to adhere to stay at home orders for 14 days.

The Premier has confirmed she has asked police to look at the measures they need to ensure they can enforce the restrictions needed to prevent people undertaking unnecessary movements.

There are currently 374 people hospitalised with Covid and 62 people in intensive care, 29 of whom are ventilated.

Of the people in intensive care, three are in their 20s, seven are in their 30s, five are in their 40s, thirteen are in their 50s, thirteen in their 60s, nineteen in the 70s and two in their 80s.

Two men in their 90s died overnight, one was a Liverpool Hospital who was part of that outbreak and he had received one dose of AstraZeneca. The second man was at Royal North Shore Hospital and was fully vaccinated.

Related story: Covid restriction questions answered by David Layzell MP – August 12, 2021.