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NSW as recorded 452 news COVID-19 cases overnight, dropping back below the record high level of infections at the start of the week.
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Monday saw a new record high of 478 COVID-19 cases despite the snap lockdown across the entire state on Saturday afternoon.
One additional death was recorded overnight and at least 50 of the new COVID-19 cases were infectious in the community with a number of cases still under investigation.
As of 8pm last night, NSW Health had not detected any COVID-19 traces at sewerage treatment plants across the Riverina, including negative results at Wagga, Gundagai, Hay and Griffith.
Murrumbidgee Local health District (MLHD) has recorded no new cases of COVID-19 from more than 28,000 tests over the past four weeks.
MLHD's testing rate stands at one test per 94 residents, which is the second-lowest rate of testing across NSW.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the state was "powering ahead" with vaccinations with more than 52 per cent of adults receiving at least one jab and more than 152,000 tests.
Ms Berejiklian said the vaccination rate had been "outstanding" and the state was on track to meet the target of six million vaccine doses by the end of August.
"Tragically last night we had a death of a female in her late 70s at Westmead Hospital, who was unvaccinated, and we extend our deepest condolences to her loved ones," Ms Berejiklian said.
Deputy Premier John Barilaro said there had been 18 new cases recorded in western NSW around Dubbo and Bourke including one new case in Broken Hill.
"We are focusing our resources on the Central and Far West," he said.
"My message to regional NSW is to get vaccinated. Don't worry about the AstraZeneca vs Pfizer debate. You don't worry about the brand when you get a flu vaccine."
Ms Berejiklian said there were "most difficult months" were ahead until more than 70 per cent of people were fully vaccinated.
"At this stage the targets of 70 per cent double dose will be met in October and mid-November for 80 per cent," she said.
"Life will be much freer than what it is today once we get to 70 per cent and 80 per cent; it doesn't mean that we will be completely free, it doesn't mean we will let the virus run be rampant in the community no matter the number of cases, but it will be freer than it is today.
"We also gave an undertaking that in September and October, which will be our most difficult months, there's no doubt that in September and October until we get to the 70 and 80 per cent double dose, the challenge for us as a government is how can we keep our citizens safe and as free as possible.
"Once we get to six million jabs, we will be able to consider opportunities for what me might be able to do in September and October that we currently can't do. Does it mean we will be living completely freely? No, but we will be freer than we are today? Absolutely."
Ms Berejiklian said the case numbers in the next two or three weeks would "bounce around and are likely to go up substantially".
"We have to brace ourselves for that and our key aims will be keeping people out of hospital and keeping people alive, and that's where the vaccination rate obviously helps us," she said.
Of the 452 locally acquired cases reported to 8pm Monday night:
- 189 were from Western Sydney Local Health District (LHD),
- 132 were from South Western Sydney LHD,
- 32 were from Sydney LHD,
- 25 were from Nepean Blue Mountains LHD,
- 24 were from South Eastern Sydney LHD,
- 18 were from Western NSW LHD,
- 13 were from Northern Sydney LHD,
- 10 were from Hunter New England LHD,
- one was from Central Coast LHD,
- one was from Illawarra Shoalhaven LHD
- seven cases are yet to be assigned to an LHD.
NSW Health's ongoing sewage surveillance program has detected fragments of the virus that causes COVID-19 at the Lennox Head sewage treatment plants in recent days. The Lennox Head sewage treatment plant serves about 7,700 people.
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