More than 700 new cases of COVID-19 have been reported across the Murrumbidgee Local Health District (MLHD) as the state's death roll continues to climb.
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On Friday NSW Health reported 747 new cases of the virus in the MLHD, up from 653 on Thursday.
Across the state 63,018 new cases of the virus were reported, made up of 25,080 PCR results and 37,938 reported rapid antigen tests (RATs).
NSW Health said that 24,329 of these reported RATs were from the past seven days.
Twenty-nine people died with COVID-19 during the latest reporting period, marking a new record for the daily NSW death toll for the fifth time in less than a week.
During a press conference on Friday morning NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said new modelling on hospitalisations and ICU presentations shows the state is tracking "better than the best case scenario" from last week.
"The health system is under pressure in this state, just like right around the country and right around the world as we move through this pandemic," he said.
"It is going to be a difficult few weeks ahead but the tracking that we are releasing today is very reassuring and encouraging given where we sit today in the pandemic."
NSW chief health officer Kerry Chant said that while COVID-positive people can leave isolation after seven days, the risk still extends for 14 days.
"So whilst 75 per cent of cases will arise in that first seven days after you have been exposed, there will be a smaller number that can arise in that second seven days," she said.
Dr Chant also said that if someone has tested positive for COVID and completed their seven-day isolation, they do not need to self-isolate if deemed a close contact for a full month after their exposure to the virus.
NSW Health continues to urge anyone who is eligible to book in for a vaccine booster.
"People aged 18 years and over are eligible for a booster if they had their second dose at least four months ago," the department said.
"We urge people to get their booster dose as soon as they are eligible, to best protect themselves, their loved ones and the community from the ongoing transmission of COVID-19. We also strongly recommend that people aged 12 years and over who are severely immunocompromised have a third primary dose of vaccine from two months after their second dose."
The federal government's online vaccine clinic finder can be used to locate a clinic and book a jab.
COVID testing sites are open in Wagga seven days a week at the MLHD's Murray Street clinic, between 8am and 4pm, and at the drive-through site at Wagga Showground between 7.30am and 12.30pm.
Laverty Pathology also operates a drive-through clinic in the Riverina Playhouse car park, off Cross and Tarcutta streets, between 8am and noon on weekdays.
Appointments are required for a COVID test at the GP-led respiratory clinic at Glenrock in Glenfield Park, where people can be tested between 9am and 5pm on weekdays.
The community is reminded to monitor for symptoms and if they occur, stay home and isolate until you can access a test.
For further testing locations across the region, go to www.mlhd.health.nsw.gov.au, or for help accessing a test, call the Murrumbidgee COVID-19 Hotline 1800 831 099.
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