NSW has recorded 216 new COVID-19 cases and three deaths as the state’s customer service minister indicates QR code sign-ins could soon be retired in some settings.

The new cases in the 24 hours to 8pm on Thursday were diagnosed from 72,893 tests.

This was a drop of 46 cases from the previous day.

Three people died from the virus, taking the death toll for the pandemic in NSW to 620.

Some 196 people are hospitalised with the virus and 28 are in intensive care. 

The state is inching closer to the 95 per cent mark for first dose vaccinations, with 94.3 per cent of residents over 16 having stepped forward for at least one jab. Some 91.5 per cent are fully vaccinated.

Of the 12- to 15-year-old age group, 74.6 per cent are fully vaccinated and 80.8 per cent have received at least one vaccine.

Customer Service Minister Victor Dominello said QR codes could soon be retired in lower risk settings like coffee shops and shopping centres.

“If the vaccination rates maintain a high trajectory and we see lower case numbers, we can retire them in low risk settings but as we’ve seen in Europe you might need to turn them back on,” Mr Dominello told ABC Radio on Friday morning.

“A high risk setting would be going into a retirement village or a nursing home where clearly there will be a need for check-ins for not just the immediate future but the foreseeable future.”

AAP

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