NSW will face yet another spike in COVID-19 cases today, Premier Gladys Berejiklian has predicted, despite three weeks of lockdown that have failed to stop the spread of the virus.
It comes as Australia's two biggest cities are simultaneously in lockdown for the first time this year, with Melbourne frantically trying to contain an outbreak that originated in NSW.
In Sydney, 65 new cases were recorded on Thursday — a drop on numbers from previous days. But because 28 were infectious in the community before they were diagnosed, Ms Berejiklian made the grim prediction of worse news to come.
"Based on the fact that we had 28 people infectious in the community in the last 24 hours, I am predicting that we will have higher case numbers tomorrow," Ms Berejiklian said.
"While the case numbers are bouncing around, we are seeing a stabilisation. They are not growing exponentially. That tells us that the settings that we have in place are having an impact."
Ms Berejiklian said the message to the community was "keep doing what you're doing", with data showing people were moving around less and staying at home.
A total of 58,000 people were tested in the past 24 hours.
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Ms Berejiklian has begged symptomatic people not to go to doctors or pharmacists while waiting for a coronavirus result.
"Regrettably, a number of people who were infectious in the community were because they went to pharmacies while they had symptoms to get medical attention," the premier said.
"If you are worried call a health clinic or GP or somebody on the phone.
"Do not present yourself to a pharmacist or a medical centre or a GP clinic if you have symptoms."
NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant urged people not to delay getting a coronavirus test if they have any symptoms.
"So don't say, 'Oh, it might just be a bit of hay fever'," Dr Chant said.
"We really want you to get tested on the first day of your symptoms."
Authorities also again pushed for people to get vaccinated.
Evidence from the UK showed the vaccines are effective at preventing coronavirus, and minimising the symptoms for those who do catch it, Dr Chant said.
"We have data on thousands and thousands of people, many millions of population which indicate that two doses of the vaccine are highly effective in stopping hospitalisation and death," Dr Chant said.
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"We have large studies worldwide which confirm that two doses of both the AstraZeneca vaccine and the Pfizer vaccine a highly effective in preventing hospitalisation and death."
She urged people older than 60 to get the AstraZeneca vaccine.
"We still know that our rates in that age group could be improved," Dr Chant said.
"That is an age group that is particularly vulnerable given the strong relationship between adverse outcomes and age."
Health Minister Brad Hazzard rebuked employers for requiring their workers to come in to office jobs.
"Please understand there actually is a health order requiring you to allow your workers to work from home unless they really can't," Mr Hazzard said.
"Just make sure that you are talking to your employees and arranging for them to stay at home."
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There are currently 73 people in NSW in hospital with coronavirus, 19 of whom are in intensive care.
Those in the ICU include one in their 20s, one in their 30s, two in their 40s, five in their 50s, six in their 60s, three in their 70s and one in their 80s.
Five people in the ICU are currently being ventilated.
Ms Berejiklian has defended the decision to allow workers to build state infrastructure projects during the lockdown.
"We know that those organisations that are continuing work are doing so in a COVID-safe way," the premier said.
"What is really important is to make sure that when we highlight work sites where there is evidence of transmission, that people sit up and notice."
