Covid 19 coronavirus: Sydney/NSW records 29 new community cases on day 1 of partial lockdown

Health workers are seen at Bondi Beach Drive-through Covid-19 Clinic on June 26. It was announced today that the state's infection rate is rising. Photo / Getty

New South Wales has recorded 12 new locally acquired infections as the state continues to battle the latest outbreak.

Numbers released today reported 29 locally acquired cases in the 24 hours to 8pm last night, 17 of those were announced yesterday.

Speaking to press on Saturday morning, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian stressed that NSW may need to extend the lockdown orders, as cases were identified beyond the four locked down local government areas of Woollahra, Waverley, Randwick and City of Sydney.

NSW recorded 29 new locally acquired cases of #COVID19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night. This includes 17 cases which were announced on Friday morning. pic.twitter.com/78izt7RJv1

— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) June 26, 2021

"I said a few days ago that this is the scariest time Sydney, New South Wales, has been during the course of the pandemic, and I mean that," she said.

"I will confirm that I will be holding a crisis cabinet meeting today to discuss the health advice with my colleagues and senior public servants so that we can advise the community if we need to take any further action.

"I am putting everybody on notice that we may need to extend that during the course of the day or tomorrow."

Currently the state's total outbreak is at 82 infections, and residents who live or work in the Woollahra, Waverley, Randwick and City of Sydney council areas are now subject to stay-at-home orders until at least 12:01am on Saturday, July 3.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian attends a press conference and Covid-19 briefing on June 25. She will be holding a crisis cabinet meeting today. Photo / Getty

However, a leading epidemiology expert, Professor Mary-Louise McLaws has shared her fears that Sydney is headed for an "inevitable" wider outbreak, despite the state's latest lockdown rules.

Under the new rules, residents who live or work in the Woollahra, Waverley, Randwick and City of Sydney council areas are subject to stay-at-home orders until at least 12.01am on Saturday, July 3.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has said today that the state may need to extend lockdown orders. Photo / Getty

However, McLaws fears infections have already spread outside these key hotspots.

"I hope that I don't see any more cases outside the four areas and the hotspot … or the warm spot that's now been found in Manly. But I think that we will," she told the Australian Financial Review.

This comes as more than 500 residents in an apartment tower in Sydney's east were placed into lockdown after one occupant tested positive to the Delta variant.

Visitors and delivery personnel have been barred from entering the inner-city building and residents have been ordered to isolate and get tested.