The call comes as 60 per cent of Australia's population is in lockdown, and daily case numbers of the virus in Sydney reach almost 300.

An outbreak in the Hunter region this week, plus detections of the virus in Armidale and Dubbo sewage, has also prompted new fears about the virus leaving the city and threatening regional areas.

Member for Wagga Dr Joe McGirr said that the biggest priority right now has "got to be keep[ing] it out of regional NSW", and that the state government has "certainly let this get away from them".

"I think there's an argument about how they've handled quarantine," Dr McGirr said.

"I think they've acted too late, and now I think they've just got to go as hard as they possibly can.

"If that means a ring of steel, I think it's time to consider that."

A ring of steel would essentially seal Sydney off from the rest of the state, with patrolled checkpoints put in place and fines imposed on those trying to leave for the regions. This was implemented in Victoria last year during its lockdown.

Health authorities believe a source of infection in the Hunter outbreak was a beach gathering with people travelling from Greater Sydney.

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"It just shows that we need people in Sydney to stay put, and I just can't reinforce that strongly enough," Dr McGirr said.

The message for Sydneysiders to stay out of the regions was reinforced by Wagga City Council mayor Greg Conkey on Friday as he received his final dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Cr Conkey said that the local police force is fining one person every day in Wagga who has travelled from the Greater Sydney region.

"That's what the police fined, there's possibly many many more," he said, telling those from Greater Sydney that "we don't want you here".

"After this is all over yes, please, come and visit us but while you're locked down in Sydney please don't even think about coming out to regional NSW," Cr Conkey added.

He said he is "definitely" worried about the virus entering parts of regional NSW, particularly the Riverina, echoing calls for a ring of steel around Sydney.

He said the state government should "certainly" be doing more to protect the regions.

"A ring of steel around Sydney, I think it's time we had that," Cr Conkey said.

"The cases in Sydney are not easing, they're quite concerning and we need to protect rural and regional NSW and the only way we can possibly do that is by having that ring of steel."

On Friday, Premier Gladys Berejiklian shut down any suggestion of a ring of steel around Sydney, arguing that there is "already police out there in large numbers supported by the ADF, there's enormous compliance [and] we've tightened the rules as much as we can without limiting basic services that people need to receive".

"Delta doesn't understand borders, it doesn't understand boundaries, and unless you have literally a police officer outside every single household in NSW or on every single road, a ring of steel does not prevent Delta from seeping out," she continued.

Ms Berejiklian called the current outbreak in the state a "national emergency", again urging people to get vaccinated.

Cr Conkey and his wife Jenny both had their second dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine on Friday, echoing these calls.

"Unless we are fully vaccinated we'll continue to have lockdowns," he said.

"I just can't understand those people who refuse to get vaccinated; they're putting themselves at risk, they're putting their close friends and family at risk, and they're putting the whole community at risk."

Dr McGirr is also urging people to get vaccinated, telling those who are eligible for AstraZeneca "not to delay in getting it".

"We need to meet our vaccination target and they key to that is making sure people who are eligible for AstraZeneca [come forward]," he said.

Overall, Cr Conkey said he is "very proud" of the Wagga community for being so vigilant with social distancing, face mask wearing and following all of the public health orders.

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