The number of new, local coronavirus cases across Sydney is expected to increase again today as health authorities warn a lockdown extension is likely.
There are also fresh warnings by a leading epidemiologist suggesting Sydney's lockdown could last longer than eight weeks.
NSW recorded 112 new local cases yesterday, the biggest spike for the state since the pandemic began.
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Of those new local infections, 84 were detected in Sydney's south-west, an area where authorities say the message to obey lockdown rules is failing to sink in.
NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro says if people continue to ignore the rules, Sydney's lockdown could stretch even longer.
"There's no reason to suspect anything less than the same numbers as yesterday," Mr Barilaro told Today.
"At the moment there's too many people in the community who are infectious and haven't been isolating and that's why we expect numbers to continue to rise.
Mr Barilaro said it wasn't necessarily the total number of local infections which were worrying health officials, but rather the number of individuals who were out in the community while infectious.
"Yesterday, out of 112, 34 were still in the community and of the 34, 18 are mystery cases where it's not known where they've been infected," he said.
"They're the numbers we have to focus on. When we can get zero community transmission that's when we'll have our plan to get out of lockdown," he said.
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Mr Barilaro said he understood people were upset NSW didn't lockdown sooner, but now was the time to focus on getting numbers back down to zero.
"At the end of the day, we're all tired. The public are tired, people probably aren't following the rules completely and they're probably pushing the boundaries when it comes to essential services or why you're leaving home but we're all in this and the reality is hindsight a beautiful thing," he said.
"Could we have locked down earlier, possibly? Did we know it would break out as bad as this, no? There was no sign. It is what it is."
Warning of two-month lockdown
Leading epidemiologist Professor Marylouise McLaws told Today the city is dealing with an outbreak that's far more contagious than what Melbourne saw.
"So we're already in our fourth week, and it will probably take another three to four weeks before we get that proportion who are in the community down to zero, and then, some restrictions will be lifted, but we still won't be out of danger until we've had at least 14 days of zero," she said.
"That, as an epidemiologist says, that you've now mitigated it; then an additional 14 days says you've eliminated it."
"So you're saying realistically Sydney is looking at potentially, a two-month lockdown here?" Today host Ally Langdon asked.
"Sadly, yes. I mean, Victoria during the second wave, they were over 100 days in lockdown, and they acted too late, and then they've now learned to go in fast," Professor McLaws said.
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Mr Barilaro said the Fairfield, Canterbury-Bankstown and Liverpool local government areas were of particular concern and that was where health officials were concentrating on.
"It is where the big numbers are coming and that's our focus," he said.
The state's first 24-hour coronavirus testing clinic is now open in Fairfield as health authorities continue to battle new infections in the community.
The clinic is set up at Endeavour Sport Reserve, Fairfield, with Liverpool and Canterbury-Bankstown also areas of concern.
Of the 112 new local cases detected yesterday, 84 of those were from these government areas.
More 24-hour clinics could be set up in other parts of the city if clusters begin to emerge elsewhere.
"Once this virus starts in a community it spreads like a wildfire and I keep encouraging people to avoid mingling, avoid home visits in large numbers and make sure you follow social distancing rules," Mr Barilaro said.
A new vaccine hub will also been set up at Fairfield Showground which will focus on getting teachers and aged-care workers vaccinated as soon as possible.
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