Hunter New England Health confirm recent COVID-19 case in West Tamworth and new case in Werris Creek are linked to Gunnedah cluster, which remains under investigation

Hunter New England Health (HNEH) told the Leader tracing has shown the cases belong to the one cluster at this stage, though the source of the initial infection in Gunnedah is still under investigation.

No new cases of COVID-19 were recorded in Tamworth to 8pm Monday, but NSW Health announced one new case each in Werris Creek and Gunnedah.

Six cases were reported in Gunnedah, though five of those had been announced the day before by MP Kevin Anderson.

HNEH confirmed four of the cases are in Gunnedah, while one is in Carroll and one is located in Kelvin.

Several cases across the area were infectious in the community, and new exposure sites have cropped up, including BCF and Spotlight in Tamworth; Caltex in Werris Creek; and Lowes Petrol in Gunnedah.

The full list of times is on the NSW Health website.

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HNEH public health physician Dr David Durrheim said it was clear the Delta strain of the virus was "seeding into the regions" and encouraged everyone to get vaccinated.

Additional Pfizer vaccination appointments have opened at Tamworth hospital in response.

"We all need two doses of vaccines," he said on Tuesday.

"That's the only way we are going to get on top of COVID-19 as restrictions are progressively lifted."

Residents across the region have been encouraged to front up for testing as health authorities work to create a clearer picture of the COVID-19 situation.

More than 2300 people were swabbed at Tamworth screening clinics in the seven days to Sunday, including at Plain Street, the respiratory clinic and the Dean Street hospital clinic. About 350 people were tested in Gunnedah in that time.

The Gunnedah local government area - and anyone that has been there since September 27 - woke to a fresh lockdown on Tuesday.

NSW Health data shows the latest sewage tests in Tamworth and Gunnedah have tested positive for fragments of the COVID-19 virus.

Glen Innes, Armidale, Uralla and Quirindi sewage samples did not detect the virus.

The HNEH district clocked 65 new cases in the Tuesday update, while NSW recorded 608 cases and seven deaths.

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