NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian recorded 681 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, with at least 59 of these cases infectious while in the community.
A new death concerned a man in his 80s who died at St George Hospital.
Tghe cases concerned mainly young people from western and southwestern Sydney, with regions such as Merrylands, Guildford, Auburn, Granville, Lidcombe, Greenacre and Blacktown noting a rise in cases.
The lockdown will now be extended for the entire state until at least 12.01 am on 28 August.
Since 16 June, 2021, there have been 61 coronavirus-related deaths.
Ms Berejiklian warned that September and October would be particularly “tough months”.
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“We want to provide as much certainty as possible and that’s why next week, we’ll be conveying to the community what September and October looks like,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“But suffice to say, until we hit 70 per cent double dose and 80 per cent double dose, life will be challenging for us.”
She ruled out an eradication strategy, stating “we can’t live in our bubble forever”.
Yesterday more than 110,000 got the vaccine, bringing the state to 5.5 million jabs overall.
