New South Wales has recorded 608 new locally acquired COVID-19 cases and a further seven deaths, as the state nears its 70 per cent double-dose vaccination target.
The daily case numbers reported in the 24 hours to 8pm Monday are the lowest since August, and form the fourth consecutive day in a row with fewer than 700 new infections.
NSW Health's Dr Jeremy McAnulty said there had been a "slight decline" in testing numbers.
"We really encourage people to come forward for testing as we get closer to more people getting vaccinated in the community," Dr McAnulty said on Tuesday.
"It is really important we all maintain our vigilance for symptoms and come forward for testing so we don't miss cases."
The new deaths include six men and one woman. One person was in their 50s, two people were in their 60s, three in their 70s and one in their 80s.
Five of the people who died were not vaccinated, while two people had received one dose.
There are 978 people in hospital with the virus in the state, with 190 in intensive care and 94 on ventilators.
The state is nearing its 70 per cent double dose vaccination target, which should trigger an easing of restrictions from 11 October.
As of midnight on Sunday, 67.5 per cent of the eligible population aged 16 and over are fully vaccinated, while 88.5 per cent have had their first dose.
Meanwhile, stay-at-home orders are in force for the Lismore local government area (LGA) and the town of Casino.
While Port Macquarie will be freed from lockdown on Wednesday, nearby Forster, Tuncurry and Taree have returned to stay-at-home orders until Monday.
With COVID-19 restrictions eased across many parts of rural and regional NSW, 721 schools - almost a third of the state's public schools - have welcomed all students back on site for the start of term four.
Of the new cases, 96 cases are from Western Sydney, 65 are from Hunter New England and 51 are from the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health Districts.
With Dijana Damjanovic
