Vax lines a silver lining in NSW outbreak
Hundreds of young adults in Sydney have waited hours to receive an AstraZeneca jab as NSW's coronavirus outbreak surges in hotspot areas and spreads further into the regions.
The state broke its daily case record for the third consecutive day on Saturday, notching 319 infections.
At least a quarter were in the community for some or all of their infectious period.
Five deaths were also recorded, including three linked to Sydney's Liverpool Hospital outbreak.
As Health Minister Brad Hazzard urged all to "stay home and get vaccinated", hundreds flocked to a walk-in vaccine clinic requiring no GP referral in inner city Glebe.
NSW Health brought on eight extra vaccinators throughout the day to help shorten a queue running more than 100 metres outside the suburb's Peter Forsyth Auditorium.
The centre vaccinated almost 1000 people over the three days it was open, with numbers growing rapidly each day as word spread.
More than 100 people were still waiting in line when it was scheduled to close at 4pm. They all received their jab, according to the Sydney Local Health District.
The centre was one of five walk-in locations open on Saturday across Sydney's inner west, west and southwest.
Almost 45 per cent of NSW residents aged over 16 have been jabbed at least once, up from 40.95 per cent a week ago.
Vaccination was the path to freedom, Mr Hazzard said.
He especially urged supermarket and food supply workers from eight virus-hit council areas to get vaccinated on Sunday at the Sydney Olympic Park hub. Bookings are via NSW Health's website.
"(It's) effectively a big day out for the food providers of Sydney."
The health minister also called for people to follow lockdown restrictions, which were extended on Saturday to include 30,000 residents and anyone who has visited the northern regional town of Armidale since July 31.
"(Gathering in groups) does make it very hard for us and the health team and the government and the broader community to stop the virus,' Mr Hazzard said.
"People have to stick by the rules. They are clear. Stay home and get vaccinated."
COVID-19 has also been detected at Dubbo in central western NSW.
The state's caseload - 28 higher than Friday's tally of 291 - came after the federal Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly said the number of unlinked infections, new chains of transmission and geographical spread in NSW were "worrying signs".
He was pleased the virus had been suppressed but said there was no sense it was "rapidly" heading to zero.
"There is clearly a need for a circuit-breaker," he said.
