COVID-19 New England North West: Nine new COVID cases in Gunnedah, as Narrabri and Moree outbreak grows

Tamworth hit a new record for daily infections on Wednesday, with Hunter New England Health (HNEH) confirming 47 new cases in the local government area.

It's the city's highest in a single day since the pandemic began. The previous daily record was on Boxing Day, when 41 new infections were recorded.

With COVID-19 testing clinics either closed, or operating on reduced hours over the Christmas period, locals were quick to take advantage of Tamworth's new Marius Street Sporting Fields Laverty drive-through when it opened at 7am on Wednesday morning.

Some reported lining up from 6:15am, and by 11:30am, were yet to have a test, with queues of cars backed up onto neighbouring streets and traffic control in place.

Eight new infections were confirmed in Armidale, four from Inverell, two from Uralla, and one each in Glen Innes, Gwydir and Liverpool Plains shires.

Across the Hunter New England Health district, 775 new cases were confirmed, with 31 active in hospital, and three in ICU.

Two women, one in her 70s and one in her 90s, died at the Warabrook Aged Care facility in Newcastle where they acquired their infections.

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With testing capacity under enormous pressure, Hunter New England Health has advised people to only get a PCR if they have COVID-19 symptoms, live in a household with a confirmed COVID-19 positive case, or have been in a venue which NSW Health has advised there has been high transmission.

It comes as the Queensland government announced from January 1, travellers from interstate hotspots can use a negative Rapid Antigen Test to satisfy border pass requirements.

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