NSW recorded 1022 new cases of coronavirus in the 24 hours to 8pm on Monday, NSW Health has revealed, and three more local government areas [LGAs] are heading back to lockdown.

More than 120,000 people were tested for the virus in the same timeframe, and the state recorded 10 deaths, NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard said on in delivering the Tuesday update.

"I just want to say to their family and friends my very great sympathy to each and every one of you," he said.

"When you have someone from your family or a friend pass away it certainly is one of the worst moments in our lives. To each and every one of their family and friends, my condolences and sympathy and condolences on behalf of NSW Health as well."

In other news

The Murrumbidgee Local Health District's [MLHD] latest cases are five people who were announced as COVID-positive by the district on Monday.

Four of the cases - a woman in her 40s and three children - are household contacts of a previously reported case.

A teenage female was the remaining case, bringing number of COVID-19 detections in the Hilltops local government area [LGA] to 12.

The MLHD said that investigations and contact tracing are ongoing to identify all close and casual contacts, and any venues of concern.

Mr Hazzard announced that Kempsey, Tweed and Byron Bay LGAs will enter a lockdown at 5pm on Tuesday after a cases were detected in the state's northern areas.

"I have actually spoken with the local members of Parliament and other community leaders and there's a general understanding of the need for those lockdowns," Mr Hazzard said.

"It will be initially for seven days, and it will be reviewed."

Stay-at-home orders apply to anyone who has been in the Kempsey LGA since September 14 and the Byron and Tweed shires since September 18.

They join Albury, Hilltops and Cowra LGAs, which have been locked down over the last week as cases emerged.

Cowra, which entered lockdown on Monday after a nine-year-old contracted COVID, has recorded another case.

The interstate, trans-Tasman news

Eight men and two women died from COVID-19. They were one person in their 50s, one in their 60s, two in their 70s, five in their 80s and one in their 90s.

All were from greater Sydney.

Regional cases of COVID-19 announced on Tuesday include 50 in the Illawarra Shoalhaven local health district [LH], 27 on the Central Coast, 18 in the Hunter New England, nine in southern NSW, seven in Western NSW, six in the Far West, five in Murrumbidgee and one in Northern NSW.

Ongoing sewage surveillance programs have detected fragments of the virus in the northern communities of Ballina and Wardell, NSW Health said.

More on the pandemic

Meanwhile, children under 18 in NSW will be able to catch up with each other in groups of three in a concession to families during the school holidays.

Deputy Premier John Barilaro says crisis cabinet agreed on Monday night to offer relief to families after much of the state has endured months of lockdown and home schooling.

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