A LAKE Macquarie woman in her 90s has become one of two Hunter New England COVID-19 casualties as the health district's case numbers continue to rise fastest in the state.
Hunter New England Health is caring for 86 people in hospital, with just one in intensive care.
The region added 2532 new cases in the 24 hours to 4pm on Wednesday.
Across the state 12 women and nine men died during the same period.
They included three people in their 50s, one in their 60s, five in their 70s, seven in their 80s, four in their 90s, and one pmore than 100-years-old.
"Older age is a significant risk factor for serious illness and death for COVID-19, particularly when combined with significant underlying health conditions," NSW Health said in a statement.
Of those who died 11 had received three vaccine doses, four had two doses and three were unvaccinated. All those under 65 had underlying health conditions, NSW Health confirmed.
The deaths included one person from Newcastle and another from the Central Coast, with a dozen from Sydney. The others were from Wollongong, the Southern Tablelands, Armidale, Shoalhaven, Grafton, the Blue Mountains and the Central West.
The state has recorded 2574 COVID-related deaths since the pandemic began, with 1582 people in NSW hospitals and 71 in intensive care. Of those, 23 require ventilation.
NSW Health continues to urge everyone to take four simple precautions to protect each other:
- use a mask in indoor settings where you cannot maintain a safe physical distance from others
- get your booster vaccine,
- get a test and isolate immediately if you have any COVID-19 symptoms, and
- clean your hands regularly.
