COVID outbreak in support home, unit block in hard lockdown as Newcastle cases rise

There are 15 new cases of COVID-19 in the Hunter region amid an evolving outbreak at a Newcastle aged care and disability support group. Key points: There are 145 cases in total in the Hunter New England Local Health District ConnectAbility is testing residents daily after three workers tested positive A family of three in a Cardiff apartment block has been infected with the virus Ten cases are in Newcastle, three are in Lake Macquarie and two are in Maitland. New federal data shows that as of August 15, 50 per cent of people aged 16 and older in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie have received one dose of the vaccine, while 21.3 per cent of people are fully vaccinated. Hard lockdown for Cardiff tower Dozens of residents in an apartment tower in Cardiff, near Newcastle, are facing an anxious wait after three COVID cases sent their building into lockdown. Hunter New England Health has confirmed members of the same family all tested positive to the virus and have been moved to a different location to isolate.