In the 24 hours to 8pm on Thursday, NSW recorded more than 2200 cases, 25 of those in the Murrumbidgee Local Health District.

The surge in numbers comes days after the mask rules and other COVID-19 restrictions were eased for both vaccinated and unvaccinated.

Wagga resident Scott Chambers said the current situation sends "mixed signals" to residents.

He said there are discussions about businesses and people celebrating the eased restrictions, but numbers are "shooting through the roof".

"Are we supposed to be celebrating, or is it too premature to be jumping up and down," Mr Chambers asked.

"I am the first to say I love not having to wear a mask, but having the mask rules in place and QR codes seemed like such simple steps that we are used to. It is not so imposing to continue to err on the side of caution."

Mr Chambers acknowledged the topic of restrictions was "divisive" but said the introduction of the Omicron variant was enough to question the current situation.

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He said while he was pleased with how the government had handled the pandemic so far and the roadmap put in place, it should have been adjusted with the latest developments.

"To have freedom back is fantastic, but I just don't know if we have jumped the gun," Mr Chambers said.

"I feel for businesses, and they shouldn't be the police for all of this stuff, and they must be as happy as Larry, but on the flip side, what could be the repercussions?"

Wagga MP Joe McGirr said he did not think it was too much too soon when the restrictions were eased earlier in the week but added he was watching the situation closely.

He said the critical statistic would be the number of hospitalisations because they could significantly impact the health system.

"We need to encourage people to get the third dose, otherwise called the booster shot, five months after the second," Dr McGirr said.

"I think the second message is that if people have got symptoms, they need to get tested, and they need to isolate until they get the result."

Dr McGirr encouraged those who found themselves in settings where they could not socially distance or were with vulnerable people to wear masks.

"Christmas time will see an influx of people travelling ... I just feel that the next couple of weeks is going to be a key issue for us," he said.

"If they [hospitalisations] start to climb, then it wouldn't surprise me if the government has to look at tougher restrictions."

NSW Labor Leader Chris Minns was asked if the government has ripped the band-aid off too hard regarding mask mandates.

"It's hard for me to know whether Kerry Chant [Chief Health Officer] told the Premier that the masked mandate should be removed," he said.

"My message to the Premier is clear: If Kerry Chant has told the Premier that mask mandate should come back, should do it he'll expect bipartisan support."

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