The number of NSW COVID-19 patients in intensive care remains stable despite the state adding a national record 2482 daily infections to its overall caseload.
There are currently 206 virus patients in NSW hospitals. Twenty six of them are in ICUs, two more than for the previous reporting period.
The state also recorded one further virus-related death in the 24 hours to Saturday.
Health authorities say COVID-19 testers managed to process more than 137,000 results for the same period.
The state is 93.3 per cent fully vaccinated for everyone aged 16 and over, while 78 per cent of those aged 12-15 are double dosed.
Meanwhile, Premier Dominic Perrottet is urging “perspective” as he faces pressure to reintroduce restrictions amid the record high numbers a week out from Christmas.
The state also recorded 2213 cases in the 24 hours to 8pm on Thursday, with the current numbers now four times those seen just a week ago.
However Mr Perrottet appears determined to hold his course and encourage individual responsibility rather than reimpose restrictions like mandatory masks in retail settings.
“It is obviously going to be a challenging time. We accept that,” he told reporters on Friday.
“But we need perspective.
“Our number one focus is to keep people safe, to keep hospitalisations and ICU numbers down.”
Some 215 people were listed as being in hospital with the virus on Friday, a rise on 23 from the previous day.
Intensive care numbers have remained fairly steady for weeks. There were 24 patients in ICUs on Friday and eight requiring ventilation.
Deputy Premier Paul Toole on Friday said the government would keep an eye on the numbers and continue to look at advice.
Rules around masks will be a conversation the government will “continue to have in the coming days and weeks”.
But he said, “we are sticking with our road map at this point in time”.
Individuals can make the decision to wear masks if they are in high-risk areas, Mr Toole said.
He made it clear the government was not looking at imposing a localised lockdown on Newcastle, despite a huge surge in infections.
Thirty per cent of the new cases – a total of 674 – were reported in the Hunter New England Local Health District on Friday.
Meanwhile, NSW will join Victoria in walking away from imposing a 72-hour home quarantine requirement on all fully-vaccinated international arrivals from Tuesday.
Instead, the fully vaccinated will be required to be tested within 24 hours of arrival and isolate until they receive a negative result.
AAP
Get all the latest Canberra news, sport, entertainment, lifestyle, competitions and more delivered straight to your inbox with the Canberra Daily Daily Newsletter. Sign up here.
