Around 128,000 tests were carried out across the state to 8pm on Thursday, premier Gladys Berejiklian said in delivering the daily update, with 390 confirmed cases of the virus.

"I anticipate given the large number of cases we've had in the last few days that unfortunately this trend will continue for at least the next few days, so it means all of us have to work harder to make sure we stay at home and follow the rules," she said.

"I know that everyday when we read the statistics about the deaths we often remember or don't remember that behind every single statistic is a loved one, a family and many carers, so we extend our heartfelt thoughts to all of them."

National cabinet will meet on Friday afternoon.

In other news

Two more people have also died with COVID in NSW, a man in his 90s from Newcastle who passed away in a retirement village and a woman in her 40s who died at home in Sydney.

She was a close contact of another confirmed case, and tested positive on August 7, Dr Marianne Gale said.

Dubbo and western NSW recorded 25 more cases overnight, Ms Berejiklian said, after the regional city and Walgett went into lockdown on Wednesday.

"Unfortunately also around the Dubbo region, Dubbo and western NSW is becoming a big challenge health-wise with 25 cases overnight," she said.

"The NSW government has been liaising with our federal colleagues as well to make sure we get support to those communities in western NSW and far western NSW. Anything we may need to do further in that area is being considered during the day today."

There were just five active cases known in that region on Thursday, and six more exposure sites were added to the list overnight.

They include a McDonald's, Bunnings, Dan Murphy's, service station, gym and convenience store in Dubbo, and the Walgett Sporting Club.

A school has also closed after a case was found in the student population.

"Dubbo College South Campus will be closed from Friday 13 August 2021 for the on-site attendance of staff and students, after a student tested positive to COVID-19," NSW Education said in a statement.

"All staff and students are asked to self-isolate and follow the NSW health advice and protocols."

All new cases in the Western NSW Local Health District appear to be linked to the case in Walgett that was confirmed yesterday, NSW Health said.

Fragments of the virus have also been detected in sewage at Parkes, Tamworth, Bomaderry, Bathurst and Bourke.

"As there are no known cases of COVID-19 living in these areas, NSW Health urges local residents to be particularly vigilant for the onset of symptoms that could signal COVID-19, and if they appear, to immediately be tested and isolate until a negative result is received." people in those communities have been advised.

Dozens of Hunter sites have also been added to the COVID-19 exposure list.

On Thursday afternoon, the government ruled out a state-wide lockdown as the virus continues to bleed into the regions.

"There is a defining difference between NSW and other states - we have always tried to keep as much of NSW open as possible," health minister Brad Hazzard said.

"We will progressively look at those areas that have problems but at this stage I don't see any reason on the advice I've had to date why we would move further than (where) the problems are."

The Murrumbidgee Local Health District [MLHD] on Thursday afternoon moved to allay fears of a case in Wagga, as the local rumour mill runs hot in the wake of cases and lockdowns in Dubbo, Walgett and Canberra.

The health authority confirmed there are no new cases of COVID-19 in Wagga or across its jurisdiction, despite the ongoing spread of the virus forcing more and more locations into snap lockdowns.

All states and territories with the exception of NSW have closed their borders to the ACT in the wake of Canberra's snap seven-day lockdown. NSW will require anyone who has been in the ACT from August 5 to stay-at-home for 14 days, starting from when they last left the territory.

The interstate situation

Testing sites in Wagga have been inundated with people seeking a swab, resulting in lines around the block at the MLHD testing site in Murray Street and vehicles lining Tarcutta Street approaching the Laverty drive-through clinic at the Playhouse car park.

Fourteen exposure sites across Canberra were announced on Thursday, including an underground nightclub for an almost five-hour period on Sunday morning, several hours at church later that day and a range of retail stores the the days after.

The lockdown will have an impact on the Wagga community, and sporting competitions have already been thrown into chaos in the wake of the announcements.

A number of travelling players will be unable to play in Riverina matches on the weekend, and potential longer, while some games will no longer go ahead. In AFL Riverina alone, more than 20 footballers travel from Canberra each week to play across the Riverina and Farrer League competitions.

Group Nine, like most other competitions, have said they will continue to push ahead with their competitions until government advice changes. Three clubs will lose key players for this weekend's round.

More on the pandemic

Wagga police issued another nine local fines for public health order breaches, Superintendent Bob Noble revealed on Thursday.

Seven more Charles Sturt University students have been fined for their role in a uni party that was attended by up to 40 people, as have two retail staffers in a Wagga shopping centre.

"Police from the Riverina Licencing Enforcement Unit have continued interviewing students and others from the university and another seven persons were issued with infringement notices in the last 24 hours in respect for that," he said.

"We are not finished yet; [the new fines] brings the total to 13 people who have received fines at this point in relation to that incident and this matter continues."

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