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Sydney set to hit bleak Covid milestone as NSW braces for spike

NSW is bracing for another spike in coronavirus cases which could see the latest outbreak hit 1000 locally acquired cases after 65 were reported on Thursday.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian told reporters on Thursday, of the 65 new cases reported, 28 were in the community while infected.

"Based on the fact that we had 28 people infectious in the community in the last 24 hours, I am predicting that we will have higher case numbers tomorrow," she said.

New case numbers will be announced by the premier at 11am on Friday, and are reported to be back in the 90s.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian at a press conference to provide a COVID-19 update in Sydney.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian anticipates Friday will see a spike in Covid cases. Source: AAP

Ms Berejiklian said despite case numbers “bouncing around” authorities are “seeing a stabilisation”.

“They are not growing exponentially,” she said.

“That tells us that the settings that we have in place are having an impact."

Since the outbreak began in Bondi on June 16, there have been 929 cases of Covid-19 detected in the community.

A rise on yesterday's number would likely take the outbreak past the unenviable milestone of 1000 cases.

Currently 73 people are in hospital with Covid-19 in NSW.

Friday marks one month since the outbreak began with Greater Sydney and surrounding areas currently in week three of the lockdown, which earlier this week, was extended for another fortnight until July 30.

Healthcare workers wearing face masks watch as the Premier of New South Wales, Gladys Berejiklian gives a media conference in St Leonards.
Healthcare workers wearing face masks as the premier speaks at a press conference. Source: Getty Images

The premier warned it is crucial the number of infectious cases in the community is reduced.

"That is the critical number that we need to watch in the days ahead,” she said.

"We need to do better than that to get out of the lockdown. We need to see a decline.”

Ms Berejiklian added she wants residents to "keep doing what you're doing".

Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said the number of cases infectious in the community was "too high".

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