The state added 753 cases and no deaths to the Sydney outbreak's toll in the 11am update, but a Jesmond case linked to aged care was the only one within the Hunter New England Health district.

134 of the NSW cases were linked to a known case or cluster, with 108 household contacts and 26 close contacts.

The source of infection is under investigation for 619 cases.

73 cases were isolated throughout their infectious period, 22 were partly isolated while infectious and 49 were infectious in the community.

Isolation status for 609 remains under investigation.

The Hunter's results in the 24 hours to 8pm on Monday were especially pleasing, chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant said, but vigilance remained essential.

"Newcastle is settling and I just want to thank the response of the residents there," she said.

"It is important we stay the course there.

"One case is not a trend. We have to all work so hard over these next couple of weeks.

"The impact of vaccination takes a while, it takes at least two to three weeks for vaccines to work, so the impact on transmission will not appear for two to three weeks.

"This big push in southwest Sydney, we're not expected to see the results of that to mid-September."

Dr Chant said it was important to remember we were only safe in NSW if aged care residents, people in large households and other vulnerable groups in the community were protected.

"It may be that we have mask wearing indoors for years ... the world is grappling with how we co-exist with COVID, and this virus may throw us curve balls," she said.

"This is not a one size fits all."

There were three cases on the Central Coast.

Deputy premier John Barilaro said the Hunter case was "previously attached to the aged care cluster".

In the region 32 people are in hospital with COVID-19.

None require intensive care at the moment.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said she was "so pleased and grateful" the state had hit 6 million jabs, her goal for August, already.

Ms Berejiklian said she expected to make an announcement of what those who are fully vaccinated will be able to do from next month.

"That equates to about 60 per cent of our population across the state having one dose," she said.

"In terms of the regions, many areas are settling down and stabilising, but western NSW remains our concern."

IN THE NEWS

The state had added 818 cases on Monday, two of which were in the Hunter.

A man in his 80s who died at the John Hunter Hospital was one of three deaths across the state.

While a decision is expected on Thursday, the Hunter is unlikely to emerge from lockdown on August 28.

A Maitland pharmacy was added as the only fresh exposure site on Monday, but health authorities have also urged casual contacts at Costco's Boolaroo site to get re-tested as further information came to light.

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