The Hunter New England health district recorded 1468 new cases during the period - 957 detected by rapid antigen tests and 511 by PCR tests.

Two women aged in their 90s - one from Newcastle and the other from Maitland - died with the virus, the local health authority said.

It came as NSW reported a drop in fresh daily cases to 14,034 - a decrease of more than 2000 from the previous day.

There are 998 people in the state's hospitals, including 39 in intensive care units.

NSW Health reports 56.5 per cent of people have had three doses of a vaccine.

Nearly 80 per cent of children aged 12 to 15 have had two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine and 48.1 per cent of five to 11-year-olds have had one jab.

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