New South Wales recorded 1290 new locally acquired Covid-19 cases in the 24 hours to 8:00pm yesterday.
A health worker collects swab samples at a Covid-19 coronavirus drive through testing site in the Smithfield suburb of Sydney on 12 August. Photo: AFP
It's a new daily record for the state, and the largest number ever recorded by an Australian jurisdiction in a 24-hour period.
Four Covid-19 patients died in the reporting period.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian again stressed that vaccination was vital.
"Vaccination is the key in terms of our freedom and reducing the spread of the virus."
The Premier said it was an "outstanding result" that 6.8 million jabs had now been administered in New South Wales with nearly two thirds of the adult population having one dose and 36 per cent with two doses.
Berejiklian said the state was doing well in terms of planning for a roadmap out of lockdown once 70 per cent of people were vaccinated sometime in October, with those freedoms extended to people who are fully vaccinated.
Chief health officer Kerry Chant said: "We are seeing such a high case rate. I cannot urge you enough to come forward for testing but importantly, be very careful in the way you move about in your community." Dr Chant said she was seeing a 'spill over' into nearby suburbs from workers travelling to and from their workplace.
Victoria reports 73 new cases
Victoria Health Minister Martin Foley reported 73 new Covid-19 cases in the state, with 52 linked to known outbreaks and 21 under investigation.
"At least 25 were in isolation for the entirety of their infectious period," Foley said.
"This takes us to ... some 805 cases currently in Victoria, of which 800 are now locally acquired and five acquired overseas."
Foley said 15 of those 49 are in intensive care, and 11 are on a ventilator.
- ABC