NSW records 681 new locally acquired COVID-19 cases and one death

New South Wales has recorded 681 new locally acquired coronavirus cases and one further death. 

Of the new cases reported to 8pm Wednesday, 135 were in isolation for their infectious period and at least 87 were in the community while infectious.

The isolation status of the remaining 459 is under investigation.

NSW recorded 681 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night

Of these locally acquired cases, 170 linked to a known case or cluster â€" 149 are household contacts & 21 are close contacts â€" & the source of infection for 511 cases is under investigation pic.twitter.com/kyq5RDvGzE

â€" NSW Health (@NSWHealth) August 19, 2021

A man in his 80s from south-east Sydney died at St George Hospital.

"He had received one dose of vaccine," NSW Deputy Chief Health Officer Dr Marianne Gale said.

"He was also being treated for another serious medical condition." 

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced the lockdown across regional New South Wales would be extended until at least 28 August, in line with Greater Sydney's lockdown.

"There are vast areas of regional NSW where they are not any cases, but everybody would appreciate and expect us to take a precautionary response, given we have the opportunity to get down to zero cases in the regions," she said.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian arrives to address media during a press conference in Sydney on Thursday.

The premier said Merrylands, Guildford, Auburn, Granville, Lidcombe and Greenacre were the areas of greatest concern in Sydney. 

"These areas have the fastest growth, and it doesn't mean there are not other areas, but these ones are the main ones," Ms Berejiklian said.

"We ask people in these communities to stay at home, but also assume that the second you leave your home, you have the virus or anybody you come into contact with has."

There are now 474 coronavirus patients in the state's hospitals, with 82 in intensive care and 25 on ventilators.

Of the 82 people in intensive care, 71 are not vaccinated.

Push for vaccinations

The premier said the state also recorded a record 110,000 vaccinations on Wednesday. 

NSW has now adminstered 5.5 million vaccine doses, with 53 per cent of the eligible population now having one dose and 28 per cent fully vaccinated.

"These are difficult times for all of us, the next few weeks will be hard, but no doubt that once we get those high vaccination rates, life will feel much better, it will look much rosier," Ms Berejiklian said.

"Every state in Australia will need to come to terms with the fact that when you get to a certain level of vaccination and open up, Delta will creep in. We can't pretend that we will have a zero cases around Australia with Delta."

The premier had previously set a target for six million doses administered around the state by the end of August - a target the state looks all but certain to beat.

Asked what restrictions might be eased upon reaching that target, Ms Berejiklian was not able to provide any specific details. 

"As soon as we can, we will talk to the community about that," she said.

"But what we want to be very clear about is that September and October will be difficult to NSW ... but better than what we are experiencing today, because more people will be vaccinated." 

More to come.

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