COVID detected in Tamworth sewage for second time this week as NSW records 1218 cases

The fragments were found as part of the NSW sewage surveillance program, which also detected traces of COVID-19 in tests on Tuesday.

It follow's Saturday's news that fragments were found in the sewage at Moree, which also hasn't reported a positive coronavirus case.

People in these communities are being urged to come forward for testing if they have even the slightest of symptoms.

NSW recorded 1218 locally acquired cases of the virus in the 24 hours to 8pm on Saturday.

Of those, 25 are from the Western NSW Health District.

The Hunter Region has recorded seven new cases of COVID-19, NSW Health said on Sunday.

One person in the Hunter is in intensive care due to COVID, with eight in hospital in total.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the state had recorded 1218 new COVID cases of community transmission. Six people had died from COVID, including three in their 80s and three in their 70s.

"Four of them were unvaccinated and two of them had only had one dose of the vaccine," she said.

The Premier said 834,000 people were vaccinated in NSW in the past week.

"That is an outstanding result. It's broken all our records," she said.

"As a result 65 per cent of our population have had at least one dose and 35 per cent of our population is fully vaccinated. We're halfway through that magic 70 per cent number across the state, in order to have those extra freedoms."

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On Saturday, Hunter New England Health announced three extra cases in the region.

This included two from Thornton in the same household.

"Their source of infection is being investigated. Both cases were infectious in the community," a statement said.

The other case was from New Lambton, linked to the Costco cluster. This case wasn't infectious in the community.

The weekend's new cases meant the total number of cases in the current outbreak in the Hunter was 180.

Hunter New England Health also said on Saturday: "Eight people are currently being cared for in hospital with COVID-19. One is in ICU."

It added that: "632 close contacts are in isolation."

Meanwhile, tenants at James Street in Windale underwent a second round of COVID testing on Friday and will remain in isolation.

One resident was confirmed to have contracted COVID-19 earlier this week.

The public health unit advised the Windale tenants that their isolation would continue until further notice, with a third round of testing to be conducted on Monday.

When Monday's test results had been received, a further review would take place.

The Windale tenant confirmed as a positive case continues to be supported at an isolated location and remains in contact with the Wesley Community Housing team.

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