The prime minister's message to senior NSW ministers who were reportedly contemplating "living with COVID-19" before the vaccine rollout is complete is to "come into line with the premier".
Scott Morrison told Today the NSW Government would follow the suppression phase of Australia's four-step plan out of the pandemic, shutting down suggestions the state would abandon the zero transmission policy for combating the virus.
"I'm quite certain that's the public health advice that (NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian) is receiving," he said.
LIVE UPDATES: NSW reaching 'fork in the road' over Delta fight
Three ministers had come to realise the state has reached a "fork in the road" where it must choose between a lockdown to eliminate COVID-19 or live with the virus in the community, The Sydney Morning Herald reports.
It comes as NSW yesterday recorded its highest single-day rise in COVID-19 cases in more than a year, with 38 infections recorded to 8pm on Wednesday.
The ministers would not speak publicly due to cabinet confidentiality.
"What has become clear is we have reached a fork in the road. We have to decide whether we accept a lockdown so that we get cases down to zero or whether we do what no other state has done and accept the virus will circulate in the community," one minister told the newspaper.
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Mr Morrison said the strategy to learn to live with the virus, rather than eliminate it, had not been conveyed to him.
"The discussions I've had with NSW cabinet ministers, that hasn't been relayed to me," he said.
"So I don't know what these reports relate to.
"We are in a vulnerable position right now. It is very important that all of us do what we can to comply with these arrangements.
"But we have to get those case numbers down."
The debate is expected to intensify in the coming days as NSW battles to contain the growing outbreak in south-west Sydney.
Infectious disease expert Professor Sanjaya Senanayake warned accepting widespread community transmission of the Delta variant would cause the virus to "run riot" across Sydney.
"Only about eight per cent of the population is fully vaccinated and about a quarter have received one dose of vaccine," he said.
"Letting this particular strain run riot would not be a good idea."
This week NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard said if people did not comply with health directions, the state would not be able to control transmission and there would be no choice but to live with the Delta variant.
"If the individuals that we need don't hear Dr (Kerry) Chant's message and don't respond, then at some point we're going to move to a stage where we're going to have to accept that the virus has a life which will continue in the community," Mr Hazzard said.
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