New South Wales has recorded 110 new locally acquired COVID-19 cases in the 24 hours to 8pm on Tuesday, from nearly 84,000 tests.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian confirmed the figures on Wednesday, adding that the number of tests was a daily record for the state.
Of the new cases, at least 60 were in the community for part or all of their infectious period - something she said was “concerning”.
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“That is a high number but a number which reflects the high amount of testing that we had,” the premier told reporters.
“The simple message is, this is really serious.”
NSW Health said 54 of the cases are linked to a known case or cluster - 40 are household contacts and 14 are close contacts - and the source of infection for the other 56 cases is under investigation.
Since the Greater Sydney outbreak began on June 16, there have been 1528 cases and five people have died.
Two new overseas-acquired cases were also recorded overnight.
“Had we not gone into the lockdown a few weeks ago, the 110 number today would undoubtedly have been thousands and thousands,” Berejiklian added.
“There is no doubt about that.
“Every time you leave your home, please assume you have the virus or somebody else has the virus.
“If you’re going shopping, as difficult as it is, do not engage, do not talk, get in, get what you need, come home.”
In lockdown
While Greater Sydney enters another day of lockdown restrictions, people in the central-western NSW town of Orange and its surrounds have woken to the first of a seven-day lockdown.
The lockdown in the Orange, Blayney and Cabonne local government areas was announced on Tuesday after a COVID-19 positive delivery driver from Sydney visited the area and infected another person.
It marks the first time a stay-at-home order has been imposed in regional NSW.
Residents can only leave to go shopping for essential items, for medical care or compassionate needs, exercise in groups of no more than two and for work or tertiary studies that can’t be done from home.
Schools remain open, but with restrictions including mandatory face masks for all teachers.
Masks must also be worn indoors and outdoors where social distancing cannot be maintained.
- with AAP