This tally, which was recorded at 8pm on Tuesday, April 7, brings the total number of Hunter New England confirmed cases to 254.

Hunter New England Health is contacting close contacts of the new cases, who are being asked to self-isolate for 14 days from last contact.

Currently 12 COVID-19 patients are being cared for in Hunter New England hospitals, including five in ICU.

The District is currently providing Hospital in The Home care to one patient in home isolation in the Manning region and 12 patients in the Greater Newcastle region.

Across the District, an additional 12 patients have recovered in the past 24 hours, taking the total number of cases recovered to 129 so far.

One resident from the Hunter New England District has died from the COVID-19 virus (see story).

Thursday, March 19 - 13

Friday, March 20 - 18

Saturday, March 21 - 26

Sunday, March 22 - 30

Sunday night, March 22 - 47

Monday, March 23 - 72

Tuesday, March 24 - 103

Wednesday, March 25 - 124

Thursday, March 26 - 142

Friday, March 27 - 167

Saturday, March 28 - 189

Sunday, March 29 - 200

Monday, March 30 - 208

Tuesday, March 31 - 218

Wednesday, April 1 - 234

Thursday, April 2 - 241

Sunday, April 5 - 248

Monday, April 6 - 248

Tuesday, April 7 - 254

Overnight, Hunter New England Local Health District also confirmed its first case of COVID-19 in a child under 10-years-old, with a three-year-old child testing positive.

The girl was already in home isolation as a close contact of an adult diagnosed with COVID-19 and is presently displaying mild symptoms.

To date, no children or young people aged between 0 and 18 years in Hunter New England have required hospitalisation for COVID-19.

The child's diagnosis is a timely reminder young people are susceptible to the virus.

While their symptoms are generally mild, it is still important to ensure children abide by social distancing to reduce the spread of COVID-19 to more vulnerable people within their own families, and the wider community.