NSW has reported a record 633 new cases of COVID-19 and three deaths.
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Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced the disturbing escalation in the case numbers on Wednesday, warning that the state had "not seen the worst" of the outbreak.
"Just stay home," she said.
She said most transmission was occurring in workplaces and households.
The worst day of the pandemic last year in NSW was on March 25, when the state recorded 211 cases. The state has exceeded this number 18 times in the past three weeks.
The previous daily case record in NSW was 475 two days ago.
The worst coronavirus outbreak seen in Australia, Victoria's deadly second wave last year, peaked at 700 daily cases on August 5.
Chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant said every positive case was passing on the virus to more than one person, meaning COVID-19 was spreading in the community.
"I can't express enough my level of concern about these rising case numbers," she said.
But she refused to answer questions about whether she had advised the government to impose a harsher lockdown.
The count of COVID-19 patients in hospital has grown to 462, including 77 in intensive care and 25 on ventilators.
The Hunter recorded 15 new cases, including 10 in Newcastle, two in Maitland and three in Lake Macquarie, bring the region's total to 143.
Eight of the new Newcastle cases were in Elermore Vale.
All 15 Hunter cases were linked to previous cases but seven had been infectious in the community. One new case was in aged care.
Ms Berejiklian said the transmission rate was 1.3, meaning every 100 people with COVID-19 were infecting 130 others.
Deputy Premier John Barilaro said 17 new cases were in Dubbo.
The government remains concerned about indigenous communities in western NSW and urged anyone who had been in Wilcannia to come forward for testing.
Western NSW recorded 23 new cases in the 24 hours to 8pm on Tuesday night, including a case in Bourke.
Viral traces have been found in sewage at Yamba, Bathurst and Orange, and West Dubbo continues to be an area of concern.
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