The number of locally-acquired COVID-19 cases in NSW is likely to spike over the weekend despite Greater Sydney approaching its fourth week of lockdown.
NSW reported 97 new locally acquired coronavirus cases on Friday, bringing the state's total number of infections in recent weeks to 1,026.
Of the new cases, 29 were in the community the whole time they were infectious.
Seventeen were isolating for part of their infectious period, while 46 were in isolation throughout.
The isolation status of the five other cases remain under investigation.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said "there is no doubt that the numbers are not where we would like them" and due to the high number of people in the community while infectious, she expected Saturday's numbers to be higher again.
She also hinted at the further tightening of restrictions.
"Please know that every day, on an hourly basis, we receive ongoing reviews and we make sure we review all the time the settings we have in place.
"If we need to go harder, of course we will."
On Friday evening NSW Health posted an updated list of exposure sites, including an IKEA in Marsden Park, a Coles supermarket in Hurstville and an Emu Plains shopping centre.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian speaks to NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant during a COVID-19 press conference in Sydney. Source: AAP
A number of fast food outlets in Sydney’s west were also listed for casual contacts, including a KFC in Fairfield and a Hungry Jacks in East Greenacre.
Of Friday's new cases, 67 are from south western Sydney.
While the majority are household contacts and close contacts of previous infections, authorities are concerned about 34 new cases that are currently unlinked.
NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said that meant people in other parts of Sydney would need to remain on high alert.
“We need to remember that the cases we are seeing today reflect transmission evidence for five days ago up to 14 days ago, so anywhere you may have cases around you,” she said.
“You can't go on the basis of where I have told you as a hotspot today. That may be different next week, so every time you leave the house, this weekend, please consider that the person you may come in contact with has COVID.”
There are now 75 coronavirus patients in the state's hospitals, with 18 in intensive care units and five on ventilators.
Of those in ICU, one is in their 20s, one is in their 30s, two are in their 40s, five are in their 50s, five are in the 60s, three are in the 70s and one is in their 80s.
Only one of the people in ICU has received one dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine.
More than 77,500 people got tested for COVID-19 yesterday.
Saturday will mark three weeks since all of Greater Sydney entered lockdown, but case numbers have shown no sign of decreasing.
The premier urged residents to abide by the lockdown over the upcoming weekend.
Police issued 164 infringement notices in the past 24 hours and more than 200 warnings to people who were not following the stay at home order.
NSW Deputy Police Commissioner Gary Worboys said a number of those fines were issued to people trying to travel to regional NSW.
Members of the public and health workers at a pop up COVID testing clinic at the Fairfield Showgrounds in Sydney. Source: AAP
“We have spoken a lot about people moving outside Greater Sydney and trying to disguise that in some sort of business trip what it is really a holiday, trying to provide police with excuses as to why they have been found outside Greater Sydney and have a caravan they are towing or camping gear with them,” he said.
“If people want to travel outside the Greater Sydney area, they will be stopped by police… they will investigated where appropriate, issued personal infringement notices and will be returned or directed back to Sydney.”
Outbreak infiltrates Sydney's healthcare system
In recent days, there have been a number of transmission events in hospitals, medical clinics and pharmacies.
A pregnant patient at Liverpool Hospital, in Sydney's southwest, was diagnosed on Wednesday after undergoing a procedure.
The hospital cancelled elective surgery to deep clean the operating theatre and contact tracing is underway with close contacts - including staff - being tested and isolating for 14 days, NSW Health says.
A nurse who worked at Westmead Hospital in the COVID-19 ward has also tested positive to the virus but there were no cases linked to the health worker so far. The staff member was said to be fully vaccinated and wearing full protective equipment.
Staff at Liverpool Hospital have been placed into isolation after a patient tested positive to COVID-19. Source: AAP
Cleaners at Westmead Hospital are refusing to enter the hospital's COVID-19 unit because - they claim - they were denied access to personal protective equipment.
Health Services Union NSW Secretary Gerard Hayes said the workers were told by NSW Health they would not be given PPE, including booties and hairnets. There are delays getting properly fitted masks.
"Our members are asking for basic health and safety provisions. The fact their requests have been denied is incomprehensible," Mr Hayes said.
Health minister Brad Hazzard said on Friday he had been in touch with the hospital and the union and said there was “a difference of opinion” but said he intended to support health workers.
“They will have to resolve the issue but whatever they want, they will have,” Mr Hazzard said.
A paramedic in southwest Sydney has also tested positive for the virus, a NSW Ambulance spokesman confirmed on Thursday night.
At least another two have been diagnosed, according to reports, forcing at least 70 paramedics identified as close contacts into isolation.
On Thursday evening, an aged care home in Rooty Hill also confirmed a contract cleaner at the facility had been diagnosed with the virus, prompting the centre to lock down as a precaution.
About 90 per cent of staff and residents have been vaccinated, and those who remain unvaccinated are expected to be offered a jab in the coming days, he said.
Dr Chant said on Friday authorities were monitoring the situation closely.
"We look at each of those cases very intensively to see if there is any lessons learned about how we can better support our healthcare workers to stay safe."
With AAP
