NSW has reported 199 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 and at least 82 of those people were circulating in the community for all or part of their infectious period.
Greater Sydney and surrounding regions are in lockdown until at least August 28, as health authorities battle to contain an outbreak of the virulent Delta strain.
“Again, workplaces and households are the main places where the virus is transmitting so we urge everybody, if you must leave the house, assume everybody that you’re coming into contact with has the virus,” Premier Gladys Berejiklian said on Tuesday.
The premier urged those who live in communities adjoining eight local government areas under stricter lockdown conditions not to enter those areas.
Ms Berejiklian said she wants the state to get to six million vaccinations by the end of August. Some 3.9 million doses have already been provided.
Meanwhile, a major Sydney hospital and two nursing homes are dealing with COVID-19 outbreaks as health care workers come under stress while the Delta strain of the virus continues to surge.
Thirty-six staff at Westmead Hospital are reportedly in isolation after a vaccinated colleague who worked three shifts last week while infectious tested positive.
There are now 232 COVID-19 patients in Sydney hospitals.
It comes as the number of COVID-19 cases at Wyoming Nursing Home in Summer Hill rose to 18 residents and two staff members.
Another contract staffer at another nursing home, St Hedwig Village at Blacktown, has also reportedly tested positive for the virus but no other cases have been identified so far.
All residents on one floor at the Wyoming Nursing Home have been taken to hospital as a precaution.
The Greater Sydney, Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour area regions have been in lockdown since late June.
AAP
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