NSW records more than 800 cases, three deaths

Deputy Premier John Barilaro said there had been 24 new cases of COVID across the Western NSW Local Health District including 14 in Dubbo, six in Goodooga and one each in Orange, Parkes, Mudgee and Coonamble.

Across the state there were 818 cases of COVID-19 and three deaths in the 24 hours to 8pm on Sunday, with western Sydney and south-western Sydney remaining the greatest areas of concern.

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Of the 818 new cases across the state out of 160,000 tests with at least 47 were infectious while in the community. Only 47 were isolating throughout their infectious period while the infectious status of 714 is not yet known.

The are 586 people are in hospital, 100 in intensive care and 32 on ventilators.

"We're asking for people to come out in big numbers for testing in Cobar, Bathurst, Parkes, Orange and Lithgow," Mr Barilaro said.

"We know we've got cases in those areas but, more importantly, we need to get those testing numbers up as we know that transmission will be happening across that community.

"Again, to everybody in the region, be vigilant and any signs of illness, please get tested and, of course, continue with vaccination."

Premier Gladys Berejiklian said everyone was going through "the rollercoaster ride of emotions as case numbers went up and down", but residents should focus instead on the number of vaccinations.

"Every state is going to have to learn to live with COVID," she said.

"... You can't keep delta out forever."

Ms Berejiklian said NSW was doing better than anticipated on vaccination rates.

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