NSW COVID case numbers up 145: Premier Gladys Berejiklian urges people to vaccinate but Hunter hub booking problems continue

Of the new cases, 51 were in the community while infectious.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has previously said that number needs to be "closer to zero" before lockdown measures and restrictions can end in Greater Sydney.

"Can I stress again that it is really important for people not to leave home unless they have to, and in particular, do not have any contact with people outside your household," Ms Gladys Berejiklian said.

"If you do need to work and you are recognised as an authorised worker you adhere to all of the COVID safety measures.

"Please come forward and get vaccinated.

"Over the next few days we will be making decisions about what life looks like beyond July 31."

Ms Berejiklian said they would base all of their decisions on the health advice.

COVID vaccination NSW

There were 98,000 tests in the 24 hours to 8pm on Sunday in NSW.

The lockdown for Greater Sydney and four surrounding regions, now in its fifth week, was due to end on Friday. But with the highly infectious Delta strain spiralling, there's no reprieve in sight.

It comes following a weekend of "freedom rallies" in Sydney and across the country.

NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said "sadly" we were still seeing cases in the community while infectious.

Of the new cases, 51 were in the community for their infectious period, and 25 were in the community for "part" of their infectious period.

"We need a very tight lockdown to get those numbers down," Dr Chant said.

"The future is driven by our vaccination coverage. They have two-fold protection. They protect you but they also have an impact on protecting others.

"Please come forward and get vaccinated.

"I was really distressed to hear about the protests.

"Every day I look at the data on hospitalisations... It actually is quite distressing."

Dr Chant said they had to look at the best way to use up the limited supplies of Pfizer, but no frontline workers would be asked to have their second doses delayed.

"If we have to inconvenience some other members of the community to do that, then I apologise in advance. But we have to look how we can use the doses of Pfizer that we have best."

Hunter residents have still been having some trouble booking at the mass vaccination centre in Belmont, despite more appointments becoming available in October on Sunday.

But one reader said despite receiving a message alerting her to more appointments becoming available at the hub, she had still had trouble entering her Medicare number, and was then unable to book a time-slot for her second appointment.

More to come.

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: