NSW records 35 new community cases of COVID as aged care outbreak grows

New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian says the lockdown of Sydney and surrounding areas is proving to be "effective" with most of today's 35 new locally acquired COVID-19 cases having been in isolation while infectious.

However, the update comes as an outbreak of COVID-19 at the SummitCare aged care facility in Baulkham Hills has continued to grow with two new cases reported today.

Of the 35 new cases, 33 are linked to known cases or cluster and 20 are household contacts.

In addition, 24 of the new cases were in isolation for the entire time they were infectious, and four were in isolation for part of their infectious period which chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant says highlights "the importance of getting to cases very soon".

"Even by the time we get to cases often they're transmitted to their family and their family might be in isolation for one day," says Dr Chant.

"But we need them in for that full infectious period."

The update from the NSW Government comes as two new cases were reported in an aged care facility in Sydney's north-western suburbs, bringing the total number of infections associated with the facility to five.

Both cases are women in their 70s one is fully vaccinated, and the other has not been vaccinated at all.

"Out of an abundance of caution all of the five residents have been transferred to Westmead Hospital for observation," Dr Chant said.

Dr Chant also mentioned NSW may continue to see case numbers arise from a Gold Coast to Sydney flight that had five COVID-infected people on board.

"It's pleasing to see that when we've contacted those individuals, we had already identified them as close contacts and they were isolating and they pose no other risk to the community," Dr Chant said.

"But my message is, we may continue to see cases arise from that plane."

The rise in infections comes as NSW is expected to ease lockdown restrictions for Greater Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour on Friday 9 July.

However, Premier Berejiklian has implored residents of the local government areas to continue abiding by the rules so restrictions can ease on Friday.

"The lockdown certainly has been effective in not doubling or tripling the figures that we were worried about," the Premier said.

"But unfortunately, having a party when you're not supposed to have a party is not doing the right thingsome of the cases today are a result of issues or a result of incidents where people have done the wrong thing.

"Please, if you are contacted for information, please be as open as you can because that will determine what life looks like for us beyond Friday."

Elsewhere in the country, Victoria has no new local cases and Queensland has reported four new locally transmitted cases, all linked to known clusters. 

Updated at 11.45am AEST on 5 July 2021.