NSW has recorded 291 new locally acquired COVID-19 infections in the 24 hours to 8:00 pm yesterday — the highest daily number in the state during the pandemic.
There were 109,547 tests carried out in the reporting period.
A woman in her 60s, who was not vaccinated, died after contracting the virus at Liverpool Hospital.
She is the state’s 79th COVID-19 fatality since the beginning of the pandemic and the 22nd death linked to the latest Delta outbreak.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian flagged rising cases in the Canterbury-Bankstown local government area, where policing will now be increased.
“We are seeing too many people frequent certain shopping areas and perhaps not doing the right thing, so police will be more present in the Canterbury-Bankstown local area to ensure compliance and we have to make sure that happens,” she said.
Rising cases also putting additional pressure on the health care system, which Chief Health Officer Dr. Kerry Chant said is currently “under stress”.
Victoria recorded 6 locally-acquired COVID-19 cases, while Queensland recorded 10 linked locally-acquired COVID-19 cases.
Year 12 students in Greater Sydney will sit assessments and trial HSC exams from home under a revised, more flexible, pandemic blueprint revealed by the NSW government.
The updated school’s plan outlines the circumstances under which some students will be able to return to classrooms in the COVID-hit state from August 16.
Under the new model, updated COVID-19 safety plans will see schools balance their physical space and timetabling to reduce mixing between students and support physical distancing.
Only small groups of students will gather at any one time with clear guidelines to be provided to schools.
Students who live or attend school in the local government areas (LGAs) of Fairfield, Canterbury-Bankstown, Campbelltown, Liverpool, Parramatta, Blacktown, Georges River, and Cumberland will not return to classrooms on August 16.
However, schools in those eight LGAs of concern are being asked to prepare for the return of pupils in the coming weeks, once they have been vaccinated.
Year 12 students from the LGA’s of concern will be able to attend a special vaccination hub at Sydney Olympic Park from August 9.
