Hunter Covid: Two new cases, concerns over Kurri Kurri mystery infection

Rolling coverage: The Hunter’s run of no new cases has already been broken with two fresh infections recorded on Friday.

The Hunter has recorded two new Covid cases, the day after its first and only doughnut day since the beginning of the Delta outbreak.

However one of those cases was a person who contracted the virus at RPA Hospital in Sydney, where they remain.

Their infection was attributed to the Port Stephens local government area because that is where they live.

Dr David Durrheim urged Kurri Kurri and Maitland residents to get tested. Picture: Supplied.

The other case was recorded at Kurri Kurri. That person was infectious while in the community and their infection source is under investigation.

“We’re doing a lot to try and understand where this might have been,” Hunter New England Health public health physician Dr David Durrheim said.

“We are worried at the moment that people in the Kurri Kurri area, the Maitland area may have been exposed to the virus.”

Dr Durrheim urged residents of those areas with Covid symptoms to get tested right away.

Deputy Premier John Barilaro urged regional people to get vaccinated. Picture: Bianca De Marchi/Getty Images.

“We need to get vaccinated,” Deputy Premier John Barilaro said.

“The roadmap to freedom is attached to vaccinations and I encourage the regions to keep getting vaccinated.”

Twenty-nine Hunter people remain in hospital but none are in intensive care.

The cases take the region’s total to 166 for the current outbreak, and the overall Hunter New England Local Health District total to 170.

Statewide, 882 new cases were recorded and two people have died in Sydney.

Health officials are watching Windale and Costco infections closely. Picture: Peter Lorimer.

FRIDAY’S ROLLING COVERAGE

Concerns at Kurri Kurri

At 12.30pm

Health officials are desperately working to track down the source and any exposure sites for a Covid case recorded at Kurri Kurri.

“We’re doing a lot to try and understand where this might have been,” Hunter New England Health public health physician Dr David Durrheim said.

“We are worried at the moment that people in the Kurri Kurri area, the Maitland area may have been exposed to the virus.”

Dr Durrheim urged residents of those areas with Covid symptoms to get tested right away.

An unlinked case has been recorded at Cessnock. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Peter Lorimer.

Two new Hunter cases

At 11am

The Hunter has recorded two new Covid cases, the day after its first and only doughnut day since the beginning of the Delta outbreak.

However one of those cases was a person who contracted the virus at RPA Hospital in Sydney, where they remain.

Their infection was attributed to the Port Stephens local government area because that is where they live.

The other case was recorded at Kurri Kurri. That person was infectious while in the community and their infection source is under investigation.

Twenty-nine Hunter people remain in hospital but none are in intensive care.

The cases take the region’s total to 166 for the current outbreak, and the overall Hunter New England Local Health District total to 170.

Two new Hunter cases were recorded on Friday. Picture: Peter Lorimer.

New cases on the way

At 8am

No new Covid-19 cases for the Hunter won’t become a streak with at least three fresh infections set to be announced at 11am.

The region recorded its first doughnut day on Thursday since the beginning of the Delta outbreak on August 5.

But speaking in a regional news conference on Thursday, Deputy Premier John Barilaro said he was already aware of three new Hunter cases that would be reported on Friday. The cut off for each day’s numbers is 8pm the night before.