ONE new case of COVID-19 has been recorded for Tamworth, and the Hunter has recorded its lowest daily COVID-19 case count in more than five weeks - but still tops the state for new infections.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Hunter New England Health reported 33 new cases in the 24 hours to 8pm on Saturday, the lowest daily tally since September 25.
This was followed by 25 from South Western Sydney, 22 from Murrumbidgee, 18 from Western Sydney, 17 from Sydney, 14 from South Eastern Sydney, 13 from Mid North Coast, nine from Illawarra Shoalhaven, seven from Northern Sydney, six from Central Coast, four from Southern NSW and three from Nepean Blue Mountains.
NSW recorded 177 new cases, the fewest new infections since July 30.
NSW Health said it had found virus fragments in sewage at Dungog and warned the town's residents to be on the lookout for symptoms.
An unvaccinated woman in her 70s from south-western Sydney died at Concord Hospital during the 24-hour reporting period.
HNEH reported 73 cases on Saturday, including 19 in Lake Macquarie, 14 in MidCoast council area, nine in Tamworth, eight in Cessnock, six in Maitland and Port Stephens, five in Newcastle, three in Armidale, two in Singleton and one in Inverell.
READ ALSO:
These cases accounted for more than three in every 10 of the state's 236 cases reported on Saturday.
They included five cases in Cameron Park and 11 in Taree.
Across NSW, 87.5 per cent of people aged 16 and over are now fully vaccinated, and more than 60 per cent of children aged 12 to 15 also have had two doses.
The government's decision to delay regional travel to and from Sydney until Monday has resulted in NSW reaching a full vaccination rate 7.5 percentage points higher than first anticipated for this freedom.
The Hunter's full adult vaccination rate was 83 per cent a week ago and now is likely close to the NSW average.