Covid cases on the rise locally again

IMPORTANT COVID UPDATE - Lake Macquarie

Just a heads-up that the latest Covid variants are running rampant in the local community. There were 900 new local cases reported on Tuesday alone while another 17 deaths have been reported in the local health district over the past two weeks.

I'd stopped reporting weekly numbers because it's no longer mandatory to report a positive Covid case and therefore the figures are not entirely accurate. However, the number of cases which are currently being reported are concerning.

It's also important to remember that while these Covid variants do not pose a great threat to most of us with vaccinations up to date, they do to many people, especially older people and the immunocompromised.

The latest figures are below, and the best advice I can give you is to be aware of the latest wave and avoid crowded indoor places.

Masks, while not compulsory, provide significant protection against infection.

Lives lost in Hunter Health district in past week: 8

Lives lost in NSW in past week: 35 (5572 since start of pandemic)

Hospitalisations in the Hunter this week: 78

Admitted to ICU in the Hunter this week: 3

New cases in the Hunter last week: 2414

New cases in NSW last week: 37,088

See NSW Health's full weekly report HERE.

All data issued by NSW Health on December 8. All data relates to week ending December 3.