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NSW has reached a new record of daily COVID-19 infections as the Riverina - and large parts of regional NSW - have their stay-at-home orders lifted today and communities leave lockdown.
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There has also been detection of COVID in the sewage of Young and Harden in the Riverina region.
"We've not identified recent cases in these locations so again, urging anyone in these locations to be particularly aware of COVID symptoms and come forward for testing at the slightest of symptoms," deputy chief health officer Jeremy McAnulty said.
To 8pm last night, there were 1599 new locally acquired cases of the virus. This brings the total number of cases in NSW since the pandemic began to over 42,000.
The state also passed the eight million mark in terms of vaccinations.
Yesterday, NSW Health - along with GPs and pharmacists across the state - administered 114,536 jabs.
Of these, 26,264 were in regional areas, with health minister Brad Hazzard said was especially pleasing, thanking everyone who came forward.
This brings the state's vaccination rate to 77.3 per cent who have had their first dose, and 44.5 per cent have been fully vaccinated.
To 8pm last night eight people died with COVID-19, including six men and two women. Three people were in their 80s, two in their 70s, one in their 50s, one in their 40s and one in their 30s.
None of these people were vaccinated, Mr Hazzard said, and all had underlying health conditions.
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There were 147,975 tests completed in the 24 hours to 8pm last night.
Across the Riverina and large areas of regional NSW, communities are leaving lockdown today and returning to life without stay-at-home orders. However, a number of rules remain in place.
All it will take to go back into a two-week lockdown is a local case, deputy premier John Barilaro warned last week.
On Saturday Mr Hazzard said the situation in the region is being "very closely monitored".
"In terms of returning to a stay-at-home arrangement in the regions it literally could be done in a few hours if necessary, and it has been done in the past," he said.
"I'm hoping we don't have to do that and certainly it's not the aim."
Yesterday, the state recorded 1542 new cases of COVID-19, a record at the time. Nine more deaths were also reported.
From Monday there will also be a change in how COVID-19 information is delivered to the public, with the daily 11am press conferences to be replaced by daily NSW Health updates and intermittent press conferences from Mr Hazzard.
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