Records tumble in NSW as the state records 1,218 new Covid cases and six deaths but best-ever vaccine week moves it halfway to 70 per cent immunisation goal to finally end the lockdown

New South Wales has had another record-breaking day with 1,218 new Covid cases, just days after Gladys Berejiklian promised to reopen as early as October.

The premier said at her Covid press conference on Sunday that NSW also had its best-ever week of vaccination, with 834,000 people rolling up their sleeves.

Sixty-five per cent of the population have had one dose, and 35 per cent have had two. 

'So we are halfway to that magic 70 per cent number across the state in order to have those extra freedoms,' she said.

Ms Berejiklian explained the government is 'looking forward to providing freedoms' once 70 per cent of the population has had a double dose - 

She hinted that local councils with lower, and falling, case numbers before mid-October could have reduced restrictions. 

'October will be here before we know it. But obviously, before then, if local government areas are demonstrating a decline in numbers, they will be opportunities for us to act in that regard as well,' she said

On Friday, 156,165 people came forward to get vaccinated - the highest daily vaccination rate number the state has seen thus far

Businesses are expected to reopen once 70 per cent of the population has been vaccinated - a target which is expected to be achieved in mid-October

On Saturday it was revealed the NSW Government is considering plans to ban unvaccinated residents entering pubs and restaurants.

There is also a possibility all hospitality staff and patrons will need prove they have received two doses of a Covid-19 vaccine before entering bars and restaurants. 

Ms Berejiklian also said there will not be any more lockdowns once NSW reaches the 70 per cent vaccination milestone.

'The point of getting to those vaccination milestones means you don't have lockdowns in the future - it means you manage the disease,' she said.

'No way will we need a statewide lockdown once we get to 80 per cent double dose, and that is the key number that we need to get to. 

'Seventy per cent double dose gives us lots of freedoms for those who are vaccinated, but it does still mean to use QR codes. It does still mean we have good social distancing, that we follow the health guidelines, but it means a much fairer existence than we have now.'

Six people died in the 24 hours to 8pm on Saturday, including three people in their 80s and three people in their 70s. 

Four were unvaccinated and two only had one dose.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian urged people not to worry about case numbers and hospitalisation rates, but to focus on vaccination rates instead

Premier Gladys Berejiklian warned that the Delta strain will still exist in the community even when businesses reopen

There are 126 people in ICU - 113 of whom are not vaccinated, 12 who have had one dose and one who has received both doses.

But Ms Berejiklian urged people not to worry about case numbers, but to focus on vaccination rates instead.

'The case numbers are always concerning when they are going up. We would love to see them come down but that is not the most relevant number for us,' she said.

'I don't want people to go through the daily rollercoaster of case numbers going up and down.

'In other countries around the world, we see a doubling or tripling of cases throughout the day in unvaccinated populations but we are seeing in NSW that the vaccines are holding up well.

'Hospitalisation is declining. People in intensive care would have been much larger if we did not have a brace on to vaccinate our population.' 

Ms Berejiklian said once the state gets to a vaccination rate of 80 per cent, there will be no need for lockdowns

People in Sydney are allowed to go outside for an hour to exercise under the currently restrictions. Pictured: Surfers in Bondi

NSW Covid-19 figures on Sunday:

· 813 COVID-19 cases are in hospital

· 126 people are in intensive care

· 54 require ventilation

· There were 106,038 Covid-19 tests reported.

· NSW Health administered 49,849 COVID-19 vaccines on Saturday.

Of the 1,218 locally acquired cases reported to 8pm on Saturday night:

· 466 are from Western Sydney

· 421 are from South Western Sydney

· 96 are from Sydney CBD

· 67 are from South Eastern Sydney

· 66 are from Nepean Blue Mountains 

· 28 are from Northern Sydney 

· 25 are from Western NSW

· 13 are from Illawarra Shoalhaven

· 7 are from Hunter New England

· 2 are from Central Coast

· 2 are from Far West

· 25 cases are yet to be assigned

She also reminded residents that they will have to learn to live with Covid for the foreseeable future.

'I am encouraging people to start preparing for living with Covid-19. When we get to 70 per cent double dose, we will have to shift our mindset.

'What will matter the most will be keeping people out of hospital and measuring intensive care patients and hospitalisation as opposed to the number of cases.'  

Despite the ever-growing list of Covid-related deaths, NSW has switched to saying the six people who lost their lives on Saturday died 'with' Covid, not 'from' Covid.

Dr Jeremy McNulty from NSW Health said this was because it was 'very difficult to know' whether someone with Covid died from the virus, or another health complication.

'We know when elderly people die, they can have a range of comorbidities, and also, being old increases your risk of death,' he said.

'Covid may often play a role in the death, but it may not, sometimes, some of our cases who have sadly died appear to have recovered from Covid, and then they have died of something. 

'We report people who have died "with" Covid, unless there is a very clear alternative.' 

The premier said she was 'disappointed' after a demountable building was set alight and vandalised at North St Marys, in Sydney's west, at 11pm on Saturday. 

Conspiracy theories were found spray painted on the walls at the site and included phrases, 'Covid = lies' and 'Fight the government, refuse control'.

The premier said she was 'disappointed' after a demountable building was set alight and vandalised at North St Marys, in Sydney's west, at 11pm on Saturday

Two women aged in their 70s and 80s died in Sydney hospitals overnight. Pictured: A man receiving Pfizer in Belmore on Saturday

'It is always disappointing when people ignore health advice or pretend that Covid-19 is not a serious problem,' she said.

'But fortunately, those people are in the minority.' 

There have been 89 Covid-19 related deaths in NSW since 16 June 2021, and 145 in total since the start of the pandemic.

A total of 18,792 locally acquired cases have been reported since 16 June 2021, when the first case in this outbreak was recorded.

When asked about the hospitalisation rates, Ms Berejiklian acknowledged it was a 'scary time' and October could see even more people in intensive care.

'Given that case numbers are where they are I suspect that in October we will probably have the highest that we do have in intensive care,' she said.

'I do not think we have reached the peak but how hard we work now will keep people out of hospital and that is important.' 

Pictured: People at Bronte Beach on Sunday morning, as the state had a record-breaking 1,218 new cases

Pictured: Police officers patrolling Coogee Beach on Sunday morning, as Sydney enters its tenth week in lockdown

She conceded that the healthcare system has been stretched, but said authorities have been planning for more casualties.

'You have to accept they will be people who are not vaccinated, and sometimes those that are, but very rarely, very rarely,' Ms Berejiklian explained.

'I think we have only had to examples of double dose vaccinations ending up in intensive care -  really is a pandemic, an epidemic, of the unvaccinated. No doubt about it, if you look around the world and even around Australia.'

The 1,218 figure includes two new cases in Wilcannia and Dubbo, 18 in Bourke and three in Narromine - all in far west NSW.

Dr McNulty said the military have been deployed to assist with the outbreak in those areas and reduce the risk of transmission, and Ms Berejiklian said the federal government was supporting at-risk communities.

'I really want to thank our Indigenous community leaders in particular for the role they have played in supporting our efforts to vaccinate as many people as we can, but also to make sure that people ask for medical attention when they need it as well,' she said.

Pictured: Women in active wear at Bronte Beach on Sunday. About 35 per cent of people in the state have had both jabs

Pictured: People flocking to Bronte Beach to soak up the sunshine during lockdown on Sunday

Thirty-one cases are associated with the Parklea Correctional Centre in Sydney's north-west, which went into strict lockdown on Saturday.

Twelve inmates housed in the same wing tested positive on August 27 and 28. 

'My understanding is that the initial investigation suggests it was initially introduced by somebody from the community,' Dr McAnulty said.

'He probably acquired it in the community, and the investigation is ongoing to both understand how transmissions occurred make sure that the isolation, testing, and vaccinations are in place to minimise further spread.'

The premier also said the 30 per cent rise in young people in NSW self-harming is 'concerning', and explained mental health has been a big factor in the government's decision making. 

'That has to be balanced against mental health issues and that is why I was keen to provide an incentive for our citizens once we got to that six million jabs,' she said.

'I am especially concerned about families in western and south-western Sydney who have very strict lockdown restrictions imposed on them at the moment.

People un Sydney are allowed to exercise outside for one hour. Pictured: A man doing push-ups at Bronte Beach on Sunday

The premier said she is concerned about the mental health crisis in young people in NSW. Pictured: A woman at Bronte Beach on Sunday

'If there is some relief we can offer at any stage, including when we get to 70 per cent first doses, we will consider those because they want us to continue to have a balanced approach.'

She also hit back at people who criticised her government's refusal to lock the state down when the outbreak first started in June, and who demanded she bring case numbers down before opening up Sydney.

'We will keep making decisions in the best interest of our citizens,' she said.

'I do not shy away from that and I will take any criticism levelled at the government because what we need to do is ensure a balance.'

Health Minister Brad Hazzard said on Saturday that Covid restrictions on weddings in NSW will be eased from 12.01am on Friday September 3. 

Wedding ceremonies will be allowed to go ahead with up to five guests on top of the people required for the actual service.

On Saturday, NSW reported 1,035 new locally acquired Covid-19 cases and two deaths.