NSW has reported a record 1431 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 and 12 deaths, including a woman in her 30s.
The entire state is locked down and police are cracking down on compliance measures as authorities battle to contain the spread of the virulent Delta strain.
The 12 deaths in the 24 hours to 8pm on Thursday include the woman in her 30s in southwest Sydney as well as one in their 60s, seven in their 70s, two in their 80s and one in their 90s.
The death toll for the current NSW outbreak is now 119.
There are 979 COVID-19 patients in NSW in hospital, with 160 in intensive care and 63 ventilated.
“We anticipate a peak in cases in the next fortnight. The next fortnight is likely to be our worst in terms of the number of cases,” Premier Gladys Berejiklian told reporters.
“But as I have said it is not the number of cases we need to be focusing on but how many of those cases and up in our intensive care wards and hospitals and how many people we have vaccinated.”
More than seven million jabs have been administered in NSW to date, constituting 70 per cent first-dose vaccination coverage for those aged 16 or over.
Residents of Sydney’s coronavirus hotspots are now allowed to exercise as much as they like outside of curfew hours, after a one-hour limit was lifted.
Ms Berejiklian said eased restrictions would come into effect immediately upon hitting the 70 and 80 per cent double-dose jab goals.
However, there would be no additional easing of restrictions for Father’s Day on Sunday.
Ms Berejiklian also said her government would next week release its detailed plans for the health system as COVID-19 cases accumulate in the coming months, peaking in October.
While the NSW health system can surge to 2000 ICU beds and an equivalent number of ventilators, unions and frontline healthcare staff have expressed concerns that staffing levels are not sufficient to manage this scenario.
Meanwhile, seven men have been fined more than $30,000 for breaching public health orders by leaving Sydney and canvassing for work in the Lake Macquarie area.
Multiple public health order breaches at a Waverley construction site – including failing to wear masks – have also prompted $13,500 in fines.
A social housing unit block in Camperdown in Sydney’s inner west and another building in Wollongong have been locked down after some of the residents tested positive.
AAP
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