NSW will increase fines for breaches of public health orders from $1000 to $5000.
People who have a valid reason to come to regional NSW from Sydney will now have to apply for a permit and those breaching orders by travelling to the regions will be fined $3000.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian called today "the most concerning day of the pandemic that we've seen in NSW" with vaccination being key to back up compliance.
"This is the largest jump we have seen in a night," she said. "No doubt you need the knockdowns ... but getting our vaccination rates up will keep people out of hospital.
"The virus is circulating at higher numbers than we've ever seen in Australia."
Ms Berejiklian said NSW "has pretty much reached 50 per cent" of the population with one dose.
"Commissioner Fuller, the Minister and myself ... have been in contact about what police need in relation to escalating their compliance," she said.
"It only takes a handful of people to do the wrong thing.
"You will need a permit to go into regional NSW.
"The permit will be effective from next Saturday."
The new fines include:
- $3000 on-the-spot fines for breaching rules by going into regional NSW
- $5000 for breach of home quarantine
- $5000 for lying on a permit
The move to increase fines comes after Albury MP Justin Clancy supported the idea.
The 466 cases recorded today comes after yesterday's record of 390.
At least 60 of those cases reported today were infectious in the community and there were four deaths overnight.
There have been 26 cases recorded in Dubbo and it "is likely" the locked down local government areas will increase in western NSW.
Whilst Armidale has had zero COVID cases after a week, the lockdown will be extended for precaution.
Police Minister David Elliott, NSW Health's Dr Jeremy McAnulty and NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller spoke to the new measures.
"The movement in Greater Sydney was way too high from our perspective," Commissioner Fuller said.
"I closed the first business this morning ... for continual breaches of the public health order."
Fines can be issued from today even though the new public health order will be coming into effect from Monday.
"Those people who have been getting around the orders, taking family vacations to other premises, that is over," Commissioner Fuller said.
"The permit will only allow generally one person to travel for what is essential business."
IN OTHER NEWS:
Victoria has recorded 21 new virus cases and more testing capacity is being stood up in Shepparton due to an unexpected detect of viral fragments in wastewater.
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