The Delta outbreak in New South Wales has taken a turn for the worse, as the virus spreads to the central west of the state to trigger a snap lockdown.
Parts of the NSW Central West are waking up to their first morning in lockdown after an infectious delivery driver from Sydney spread COVID-19 to a factory worker.
More than 40,000 people in Orange, Blayney and the Cabonne Shire must follow stay-at-home orders for at least seven days.
READ MORE: Half of Australia in lockdown as Delta variant spreads wider
9News Political Reporter Chris O'Keefe said sources have told him NSW will report "more than 100" cases today.
"Numbers will be a shock," he tweeted this morning, adding "a big number (have been) infectious in the community".
https://twitter.com/cokeefe9/status/1417640342975705093The daily case numbers in Greater Sydney continue to jump around.
The key number of people infectious while out in the community has remained above 20 for many days. That figure needs to be close to zero in order for the lockdown to end, NSW Health officials have said.
NSW yesterday reported 78 local coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours.
It is the second lowest daily case number in NSW since July 11.
More than 1400 COVID-19 cases have been recorded in NSW since an unmasked, unvaccinated Bondi limousine driver who drove international aircrew landing in Sydney became patient zero in the outbreak.
READ MORE: South Australia records one new virus case overnight
Premier Gladys Berejiklian is scheduled to announce the latest case numbers at 11am (AEST).
She said yesterday that data over the remainder of this week would help clarify whether the Greater Sydney lockdown will be extended beyond July 30.
There are fears the lockdown in Greater Sydney could last until September, with mobility still a problem and transmission of the Delta virus among families and in the workplace occurring too frequently.
No clues on when lockdown will end
Speaking on Today, Australia's Deputy Chief Medical Officer Professor Michael Kidd did not offer any predictions on when the Greater Sydney lockdown could end.
"Unfortunately, we do have to follow much of this a day at a time," he said.
"As the restrictions really kick in, hopefully we will see a further decline in that worrying number of people who have been out in the community at the time that they are diagnosed.
"And as that comes under control then we will see a steady decline in new numbers."
The Greater Sydney lockdown is edging closer to its fifth week, and is scheduled to end on July 30.
Professor Kidd said the Federal Government was growing increasingly worried over the rising number of Australians in intensive care with the Delta variant of COVID-19.
There are now 142 COVID patients in hospital across the country, with more than 20 in ICU.
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