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Sydney records 919 new infections - the highest daily Covid-19 cases in Australian history - with lockdown to be EXTENDED in the regions as low-risk areas of NSW cling to hopes SOME restrictions will be lifted with one third now fully vaccinated

Sydney has hit another grim record for its coronavirus outbreak with 919 new cases and two deaths, even as almost 150,000 were vaccinated in a single day. 

Premier Gladys Berejiklian confirmed the deaths on Wednesday morning - a woman in her 30s and a man in his 80s.

There are 645 people with the virus in hospital and 113 in intensive care - 98 of whom are not vaccinated. 

However, Ms Berejiklian said the number of positive Covid cases is less important than increasing vaccination rates, which hit six million on Tuesday.

'That is the most important measure but what is also really important is when you have those high rates of vaccination, that adds protection and allows us to live live more freely,' she said.

'It gives us confidence to move forward because every state in the nation is going to have to confront having Delta part of our lives moving forward.' 

NSW broke another pandemic record on Wednesday with a staggering 919 new cases. Pictured: A woman in Bondi on Tuesday

NSW broke another pandemic record on Wednesday with a staggering 919 new cases. Pictured: A woman in Bondi on Tuesday

Fully-vaccinated Sydneysiders are likely to have an extra freedom by the end of the week. Pictured: People walking into the Homebush vaccination hub

Fully-vaccinated Sydneysiders are likely to have an extra freedom by the end of the week. Pictured: People walking into the Homebush vaccination hub

Deputy Premier John Barilaro tried to hose down comments by Tweed MP Geoff Provest that the whole state would be locked down for an extra six weeks, 

He claimed the government hadn't made a decision about whether regional areas would be locked down until the end of September like Sydney, but admitted cases weren't heading in the right direction.

'The government and the crisis committee will be considering what happens after Saturday,' he said.

'We haven't made any decision around extension of these restrictions of lockdown for regional NSW but, as you can see, the Central West isn't getting better, the far west, Hunter and New England - even though under control - still have cases.'

'We'll take advice from Dr Chant and her team on the crisis committee will make a decision and will do it sooner rather than later.'

ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr said Canberra residents will likely be trapped in the capital until December or early 2022. 

'Put it this way, I would not be planning a trip to Sydney in the next few months,' Mr Barr said.

He even said it was more likely Canberrans would be able to travel to other states and territories before borders with NSW were reopened.

Deputy Premier John Barilaro said authorities have not decided whether the state will be locked down for an extra six weeks. Pictured: People walking in Bondi on Wednesday

Deputy Premier John Barilaro said authorities have not decided whether the state will be locked down for an extra six weeks. Pictured: People walking in Bondi on Wednesday

Premier Gladys Berejiklian (pictured) announced 919 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday

Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced 919 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday

After a drop in Covid-19 cases on Tuesday, NSW saw another record-breaking spike on Wednesday

Ms Berejiklian dodged questions about whether the high number of new cases would have an impact on the easing of restrictions in Sydney, which was initially pegged for the end of August.

'The way I'd defined this is that this will be a journey with the community,' she said.

'We need to maintain those high levels of compliance and get vaccine coverage up as soon as possible.

'Every day I look at the data around vaccine coverage and at the geographical distribution of that will stop I am most interested in seeing vaccine rates come up in those local government areas of concern.' 

Cleaners have been deployed in Bondi (pictured), as lockdown in Sydney extends to its ninth week

Cleaners have been deployed in Bondi , as lockdown in Sydney extends to its ninth week

Ms Berejiklian urged people in NSW not to be alarmed by the rising case numbers on Wednesday (pictured: a cleaner in Bondi on Wednesday)

Ms Berejiklian urged people in NSW not to be alarmed by the rising case numbers on Wednesday (pictured: a cleaner in Bondi on Wednesday)

The extra freedom will be discussed in a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, and is set to be announced on Thursday or Friday.

Hairdressers and nail salons are the most likely to be able to reopen for double-dosed customers, but Ms Berejiklian is yet to confirm.  

The premier has maintained that lockdown would be lifted after 70 per cent of people in NSW were vaccinated, but if cases continue to rise above 1,000 harsh restrictions could continue for longer.

A slide in cases from a peak of 830 on Sunday down to 753 on Tuesday raised hopes the outbreak had reached its top and would start to improve. 

The premier also acknowledged on Wednesday that residents may be alarmed by case numbers cracking 900, but reminded them that the rate of hospitalisation was still relatively low.

'There is no doubt people would be alarmed by rising case numbers,' she said.

'We don't want to see anybody in ICU... vaccines are our best way of doing that. Last year when there was the outbreak… even though they had fewer cases, the death rate was much higher.' 

Premier Gladys Berejiklian reminded Sydneysiders that the rate of hospitalisation is 'relatively low'

Premier Gladys Berejiklian reminded Sydneysiders that the rate of hospitalisation is 'relatively low'

Vaccination rates have been consistently high, and a new freedom could be rolled out for double-dosed people by the end of the week. Pictured: staff at the Homebush vaccination hub

Vaccination rates have been consistently high, and a new freedom could be rolled out for double-dosed people by the end of the week. Pictured: staff at the Homebush vaccination hub

Dr Chant responded to questions about whether high case numbers are the result of people becoming complacent - believing that case numbers won't matter if 80 per cent of the population is vaccinated. 

'The modelling suggests if we can get the group vaccinated, we will break the transmission chain,' she said.

'The numbers were bouncing around, but the solution is in our hands, and I urge everyone in those local government areas who have access to that vaccine to fill those appointment vacancies and get a vaccine.' 

Health Minister Brad Hazzard was asked whether NSW could cope with up to 4,000 people in hospital, as per some modelling for by the time vaccination rates reach 70 per cent, but he said the system would manage. 

'The effective rate according to our own public health advice is about 1.3... NSW Health system is probably the best in the world,' he said.

'All the information given to me from the doctors and nurses and our public health staff is that the system is coping.

Sydney is now in its ninth week of lockdown, as case numbers continue to rise. Pictured: NSW Police conducting compliance checks in Rockdale, in the city's west

Sydney is now in its ninth week of lockdown, as case numbers continue to rise. Pictured: NSW Police conducting compliance checks in Rockdale, in the city's west

Chief health officer Kerry Chant (pictured) urged people across the entire state to get vaccinated

Chief health officer Kerry Chant urged people across the entire state to get vaccinated

'Westmead staff are managing about 1,500 patients in the community and about 121 staff are in their wards. There are about 23 currently in ICU. That is a pressure situation for them.'

He said there were 40 ambulance deliveries to Westmead hospital per day carrying people with Covid-19, and that each of those patients are being 'well cared for'.

'I'm confident that we have maybe a system that is under pressure but a system that works,' he added.

However, Mr Hazzard said hospitals had been building their capacity 'for some time' to cope with a Covid outbreak and were working well within their limits.

'That is part of what hospital system does. When we have very bad flu seasons, it is a similar work that is done across the networks.'

When asked whether the anti-lockdown protest in Sydney on the weekend was a super-spreader event, Mr Hazzard said it was likely that 'a number' of those people were now in hospital. 

'A demonstration is completely wrong when you are in the middle of a pandemic and to think there were people who went along in vast numbers and thought it was okay to go and demonstrate against the sorts of safeguards put in place is just ridiculous,' he said. 

'I have no doubt, no doubt, there are probably some people sitting in a hospital system at the moment requiring our health staff to put their lives at risk to look after them when they thought it was okay to go along to a demonstration.'

Ms Berejiklian confirmed the plan to offer one extra freedom was in the works on Monday night during a TV interview blitz. Pictured: women in Sydney

Ms Berejiklian confirmed the plan to offer one extra freedom was in the works on Monday night during a TV interview blitz. Pictured: women in Sydney

Lucy Morgan (pictured right), a lung specialist at Concord and Nepean hospitals, reminded residents about the importance vaccinations

Lucy Morgan (pictured right), a lung specialist at Concord and Nepean hospitals, reminded residents about the importance vaccinations

Of the 919 new cases recorded on Wednesday, there were 49 in the state's far west, with 35 in Dubbo, five in Orange, Bourke, Narromine and Walgett.

Six infections were reported in Wilcannia and there was one in Broken Hill. 

Dr Chant urged people in Bateau Bay, Toukley and Merimbula - all on the Central Coast - to be on alert for symptoms amid low testing rates. 

She also said contact tracing was unlikely to stop in the foreseeable future.

'It's an effective public health intervention,' she said.

'What we're is doing it smarter and scaling it. Innovation of the text message, we are also embedding in the text message, little surveys that can tell us if they are a household member or they are in aged care or any critical workplace.'  

Lucy Morgan, a lung specialist at Concord and Nepean hospitals, reminded residents about the importance vaccinations by detailing the horrific experiences people have had in hospital with the Delta variant. 

'Many of my patients have a terrible cough, the sort of cough that leaves you breathless and they can't move or speak without the cough becoming really terrible,' she said. 

'Lots of patients have diarrhoea. Lots of patients have nausea. They just can't eat or drink anything. And people feel so overwhelmingly fatigue, or they can do is lie on the bed.' 

The premier has been privately pushing for the return of in-person learning on October 5 when term four commences.

Police have been enforcing Sydney's lockdown, which has been tougher in the city's west. Pictured: Police in Maroubra on Monday

Police have been enforcing Sydney's lockdown, which has been tougher in the city's west. Pictured: Police in Maroubra on Monday

Political insiders have tipped the fully-vaccinated will finally be able to get a hair cut after months in lockdown. Pictured: People at a vaccination hub in Homebush

Political insiders have tipped the fully-vaccinated will finally be able to get a hair cut after months in lockdown. Pictured: People at a vaccination hub in Homebush

But with school-aged children now making up about 25 per cent of all new Covid cases it remains to be seen whether that will be possible.

'Our message is consistent. We look forward to seeing something about schools on the day after. Have asked everyone between 16-39 and LGAs of concern to get the vaccine,' she said.

'We have put a call out to groups like teachers in those communities to come forward further vaccine and we know that in areas outside those areas of concern, a high degree of vaccine has occurred amongst teachers.'

'The body has access to a vaccine. Don't be fussy. Come forward and get vaccinated.'

Ms Berejiklian confirmed the plan to offer one extra freedom for fully-vaccinated people was in the works on Monday night during a TV interview blitz, her first since the outbreak started on June 16.

Pictured: Two Bondi residents braving the wet weather on Tuesday morning

Pictured: Two Bondi residents braving the wet weather on Tuesday morning

The Australian Medical Association has urged authorities to stay the course on lockdowns while the health system struggles to cope

The Australian Medical Association has urged authorities to stay the course on lockdowns while the health system struggles to cope

Political insiders have tipped the fully-vaccinated will finally be able to get a hair cut after months in lockdown, with the premier making similar suggestions during a radio interview.

'I have never suggested that life will be free once we get to the six million jabs but what I have said, and will honour, is that if you are fully vaccinated, there will be at least one thing you can do that you cannot do now,' Ms Berejiklian told A Current Affair on Monday.

'We know that the harsh lockdowns in NSW are affecting every single citizen, so for us to be able to give them something they can do, which they couldn't previously do, is an important opportunity.'

Despite the premier's extra freedom promise, the Australian Medical Association urged authorities to stay the course on lockdowns while the health system struggles to cope.

NSW President Danielle McMullen said health must come first, 'we cannot ease restrictions while our health system is struggling'. 

The premier is urging people aged 16-to-39 living in southwest or western Sydney to go to nsw.gov.au and book for a Pfizer vaccine at a hub, saying there are thousands of doses available and people could be jabbed as soon as Wednesday or Thursday.

'We are literally giving you priority status because we know that that particular age group are the most mobile,' she told Sydney radio 2GB on Wednesday.

'If we can vaccinate them and protect them and stop them and their loved ones going into hospital we'll also be stopping the spread of the virus.' 

What are the four phases of opening up?

A. Vaccinate, prepare and pilot (from July 14)

Arrival caps cut in half to 3,035 a week; early, stringent and short lockdowns if outbreaks occur; trials of seven-day home quarantine for vaccinated arrivals in South Australia; medicare vaccination certificates available on apps like apple wallet   

B. Post vaccination phase (when 70 per cent are jabbed, expected late this year)

Lockdowns 'less likely but possible'; vaccinated people face reduced restrictions; caps for unvaccinated arrivals increased; a larger cap for vaccinated arrivals with 'reduced quarantine requirements'; capped entry for students and economic visa holders  

C. Consolidation phase (when 80 per cent are jabbed, time not announced)

Lifting all restrictions for outbound travel for vaccinated travellers; no caps for vaccinated arrivals; increased caps for students and visa holders; more travel bubbles being set up with countries such as Singapore; booster shots rolled out 

D. Final phase (percentage or time not announced)

Uncapped arrivals for vaccinated people without any quarantine and uncapped arrivals for unvaccinated people with testing before departure and on arrival 

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What are the four phases of opening up?

A. Vaccinate, prepare and pilot (from July 14)

Arrival caps cut in half to 3,035 a week; early, stringent and short lockdowns if outbreaks occur; trials of seven-day home quarantine for vaccinated arrivals in South Australia; medicare vaccination certificates available on apps like apple wallet   

B. Post vaccination phase (when 70 per cent are jabbed, expected late this year)

Lockdowns 'less likely but possible'; vaccinated people face reduced restrictions; caps for unvaccinated arrivals increased; a larger cap for vaccinated arrivals with 'reduced quarantine requirements'; capped entry for students and economic visa holders  

C. Consolidation phase (when 80 per cent are jabbed, time not announced)

Lifting all restrictions for outbound travel for vaccinated travellers; no caps for vaccinated arrivals; increased caps for students and visa holders; more travel bubbles being set up with countries such as Singapore; booster shots rolled out 

D. Final phase (percentage or time not announced)

Uncapped arrivals for vaccinated people without any quarantine and uncapped arrivals for unvaccinated people with testing before departure and on arrival 

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