NSW Health figures show the city has seen two-and-a-half times more COVID-19 cases in the past 30 days than in the previous 18 months of the pandemic.

December so far saw 248 residents in the Wagga local government area test positive, compared to 98 cases between Wagga's first COVID-19 positive on March 24, 2020 and the end of November 2021.

Former Wagga deputy mayor and councillor-elect Dallas Tout urged residents to continue the vigilance and discipline they showed in the face of the Delta variant.

"People need to be aware of what they are doing and masking-up where they have to, or masking-up voluntarily if they are in close contact," he said.

"People need to take personal responsibility until we can try and settle it down a bit."

In the 24 hours to 8pm on Thursday, the latest figures available, the Murrumbidgee Local Health District recorded 131 new cases, up from 71 and 73 cases on the two previous days.

Thursday's MLHD total included 31 new cases in the Wagga LGA.

Councillor-elect Jenny McKinnon said the latest figures had been "shocking" and people should socially distance and wear masks as much as possible.

"I would strongly urge everyone to get vaccinated and to get the booster shot as soon as they are eligible," she said.

Councillor-elect Mick Henderson said people should take personal responsibility.

"We can't keep doing shutdowns as businesses won't survive; we have to find a way to live with it," he said.

Councillor-elect Dan Hayes said there was frustration that the state and federal governments were still doing "policy on the run".

"Wagga people have been willing to get vaccinated and do the right thing but are being left to their own devices [around getting tests]." he said.

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