ALMOST a third of the 97 fresh NSW coronavirus cases were infectious in the community, adding to an unwanted streak that has elongated the state's lockdown.
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NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian confirmed 97 new cases were added to 8pm on Thursday night, and that 29 were infectious for all of the time they were in the community.
Several more were infectious for part of it, taking that tally to more than 40.
The numbers announced on Friday mean there are 75 cases in hospital. 18 of those require intensive care, with five on ventilators.
Dr Kerry Chant said there was an urgent need to reduce both mobility and to reduce interactions.
"That number of people who were infectious [in the community] keeps going up," Premier Gladys Berejiklian said.
"In the main we just need people to stop moving around."
Ms Berejiklian said it was clear that the numbers "were not where we'd like them", adding little to the case for lockdown to end before August.
"If we need to go harder, of course we will," she said.
"But we need to make sure any measures that we put in place are going to hit the mark."
"We all think we need to do more, collectively, and that's why we will further review the health advice."
In more encouraging numbers, more than 77,000 people were tested in the latest 24-hour period.
Health authorities urged anyone in the community who knew an infected person to go and get tested regardless of symptoms as asymptomatic cases were emerging.
"Get tested as much as you think you should, and then get tested some more," NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard said.
Dr Kerry Chant said there were also unlinked cases emerging, a situation she described as concerning.
She urged people to wear masks even when outdoors if they could not socially distance, including while collecting takeaway food or drinks from outside windows.
"Also we are seeing at times that people are delaying getting a test," she said.
"Don't wait to get tested. This virus spreads so quickly. If you are leaving it for a day or two after symptom onset, you are impacting those nearest and dear to you."
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Ms Berejiklian said that regional areas had done well in containing the outbreak to Sydney and staying out of lockdown, urging people in Sydney not to "sneak out" of the area.
But she said it was unlikely regional restrictions, including compulsory masks indoors, would be lifted before the Sydney lockdown ended.
"The regions have done exceptionally well in not having cases of the virus," she said.
"We need to keep it that way."
NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys said that people continued to "disguise" trips out of Sydney as business while towing caravans or toting camping gear.
He said police were also patrolling Sydney beaches, which led them to halt a "pop-up party" at North Steyne on Thursday evening.
"Every single day senior police ... meet and discus the tactics that the police will use," he said.
"If people want to travel out of the greater Sydney area, they will be stopped by police. If they're not stopped by police, local communities will dob them in."
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