![Nearly 300 new NSW COVID cases, Premier says prepare for higher numbers Nearly 300 new NSW COVID cases, Premier says prepare for higher numbers](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/zVtrQGhRGBmiD3RNa8bKgt/de003c4c-d162-467c-a425-67e06505ac82.png/r0_0_1920_1080_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
NSW recorded 291 cases of community COVID-19 transmission in the 24 hours to 8pm Thursday.
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Premier Gladys Berejiklian said a number of cases were under investigation but at least 50 of those were infectious in the community.
"I do want to foreshadow that given this high number of cases we're likely to see this trend continue for the next few days, so I do want everyone to prepare themselves for higher case numbers in the next few days," she said.
A woman in her 60s from southwest Sydney has died, taking the toll of the current outbreak to 23.
NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said the woman tested positive for COVID-19 on July 29 and was not vaccinated.
"She acquired her infection at Liverpool Hospital," she said.
"Sadly the lady was exposed by a health worker who worked across two wards, both the aged care ward and the ward this lady was on.
"As we've indicated there were a large number of people that were impacted by that.
"I extend my apologies and sympathies to the family."
Ms Berejiklian said 84,000 people in NSW received a COVID-19 vaccine on Wednesday.
"The more people we get vaccinated, the sooner we will be able to live more freely and I really want to stress that point," she said.
"Life for us on August 29 will be a reflection of how many people have at least one dose of the vaccine and where the case numbers are."
There are currently 304 COVID-19 cases admitted to hospital, with 50 people in intensive care, 22 of whom require ventilation.
Thursday's figures had been the worst of the pandemic so far in NSW. Alongside plunging the Hunter into lockdown, officials announced 262 infections and five deaths.
Meanwhile, year 12 students in western Sydney's eight coronavirus-hit council areas will not return to in-person schooling when the remainder of the city's students re-enter the classroom on August 16.
Education Minister Sarah Mitchell said in a statement on Friday that HSC students in the eight local government areas of concern would not return to school, allowing time for vaccinations to take effect.
The eight council areas in question are Blacktown, Campbelltown, Canterbury-Bankstown, Cumberland, Fairfield, Georges River, Liverpool and Parramatta.
Students who reside in the eight council areas but go to school in other council areas will also be barred from attending school.
"The six new locally-acquired cases are all linked to previously reported cases and were not in quarantine during their infectious periods," the Department of Health and Human Services said.
Figures showed 18,901 vaccine doses were administered and 29,631 test results received.
MORE COVID NEWS:
EARLIER: Wangaratta mayor Dean Rees has cast doubt on virus traces detected in a sewerage test in his city.
Cr Rees said on Friday morning he felt this information was incorrect.
"Our news last night was the Premier's made a mistake on that," he told 2AY.
"A couple of days ago it was positive, the second test then showed negative, the third test has been negative as well.
"So if the Premier is locking down all of the country areas because of misinformation by his staffers, well, it does pose a bit of a problem here."
Cr Rees said he felt for Melbourne residents but felt the lockdown shouldn't be extended to regional areas.
The Border Mail has contacted the Victorian government to confirm the status of the Wangaratta sewage test.
IN OTHER NEWS:
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