New South Wales recorded 199 locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night, with almost a quarter of those people being out in the community during their infectious period.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian also highlighted plans to reach the six million mark for administered vaccine doses by the end of the month, as currently only 19.2 per cent of the adult population has received two doses.
"We're looking forward to us getting more jabs - six million is the target I want to set by the end of August 29," the Premier said.
"We're at 3.9 million. I suspect we'll be at four million by end of the week or in the next few days.
"The more of us that get vaccinated, the greater chance we have to live freely."
Efforts to vaccinate the population will be focused on the eight local government areas of concern: Fairfield, Canterbury-Bankstown, Liverpool, Cumberland, Blacktown, Parramatta, Georges River and Campbelltown. The Premier is urging people to avoid entering them during this period.
"Workplaces and households are the main places where the virus is transmitting."
"If you must leave the house, assume everybody you are coming into contact with has the virus."
Testing rates continue to be strong after 104,536 people came forward yesterday. There are a total of 53 cases in ICU, with 14 patients aged 40 or under.
Updated at 11:45am AEST on 3 August 2021.
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