THE Hunter again leads the way for new COVID-19 cases in NSW but the number of cases in the region continues to decline.
For a second successive day, there were no COVID-19 deaths in the region.
Hunter New England reported on Sunday 2240 new cases in the 24 hours to April 9, down from the 2526 it reported on Saturday.
There were 909 positive PCR tests and 1331 positive rapid antigen tests.
Sunday's figure was almost 300 more cases than the next highest region in NSW (Western Sydney, 1977) but was 1500 down on the 3725 the Hunter reported on Thursday.
There was a small rise in Hunter New England hospitalisations, up to 72 from 68 on Saturday. There are three people in ICU.
Meanwhile, children won't be going for their COVID-19 vaccine booster just yet despite an earlier recommendation from the Therapeutic Goods Administration.
The TGA on Friday gave provisional advice for 12 to 15-year-olds to receive their third vaccine six months after their first two.
But the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation has not followed suit on the recommendation.
"Current data suggest COVID-related serious illness is very rare in adolescents aged 12-15, particularly after completion of a primary series of COVID-19 vaccination," ATAGI says.
"At this time, ATAGI does not recommend that adolescents aged 12-15 years need to receive a booster dose of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.
"ATAGI will continue to review and consider new evidence on the benefits and risks of any additional doses in 12-15 year olds, including for those with underlying medical conditions."
ATAGI says it still strongly recommends all children aged five to 15 receive two vaccines, while those who are immunocompromised require a third dose.
Only Australians aged 16 and over continue to have access to a booster shot.
As of Saturday, almost 70 per cent of the eligible population, or more than 13.1 million people in total, had received their booster.
More than 40,000 new COVID-19 cases and 13 deaths have been recorded across the country so far on Sunday.
LATEST 24-HOUR COVID-19 DATA FROM ACROSS AUSTRALIA:
NSW: 15,683 cases, eight deaths, 1492 in hospital, 56 in ICU
Victoria: 9510 cases, one death, 356 in hospital, 16 in ICU
Tasmania: 1414 cases, one death, 42 in hospital, one in ICU
ACT: 795 cases, no deaths, 62 in hospital, three in ICU
Queensland: 7154 cases, one death, 500 in hospital, 15 in ICU
WA: 5351 cases, two deaths, 234 in hospital, 10 in ICU
