REGIONAL areas have been given a well-deserved pat on the back for increased vaccination rates as the Sydney COVID-19 outbreak intensifies.
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Deputy Premier John Barilaro congratulated Walcha for its 49.2 per cent double-dose rate and extended his praise to Armidale, Inverell and soon Moree for organising mass vaccination hubs to increase community protection.
There were no new cases of COVID-19 recorded in Armidale or Tamworth, and the Hunter added just one new case of COVID-19 and had no patients infectious in the community.
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Mr Barilaro called out several communities for its high vaccination rate, starting with Walcha where he said 75 per cent had received their first dose and 49.2 per cent were fully vaccinated.
He also acknowledged Armidale for its mass vaccination days held at UNE Medical Clinic, as well as the mobile clinic which went to Inverell last week.
The state added 753 cases and no deaths to the Sydney outbreak's toll in the 11am update, but a Jesmond case was the only one within the Hunter New England Health district.
The Hunter's results were especially pleasing, chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant said, but vigilance was essential.
"Newcastle is settling and I just want to thank the response of the residents there," she said.
"It is important we stay the course there."
There were three cases on the Central Coast.
Deputy Premier John Barilaro said the Hunter case was "previously attached to the aged care cluster".
In the region 32 people are in hospital with COVID-19.
None require intensive care at the moment.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said she was "so pleased and grateful" the state had hit six million jabs, her goal for August, already.
Ms Berejiklian said she expected to make an announcement of what those who are fully vaccinated will be able to do from next month.
"That equates to about 60 per cent of our population across the state having one dose," she said.
The state had added 818 cases on Monday, two of which were in the Hunter.
A man in his 80s who died at the John Hunter Hospital was one of three deaths across the state.
While a decision is expected on Thursday, the Hunter is unlikely to emerge from lockdown on August 28.
A Maitland pharmacy was added as the only fresh exposure site on Monday, but health authorities have also urged casual contacts at Costco's Boolaroo site to get re-tested as further information came to light.
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