The NSW police minister says cops will be out in force "from Tweed Heads to Albury" after being handed stronger powers to enforce compliance amid COVID-19 lockdown.
All of NSW is now under lockdown after the state recorded 466 new local COVID-19 cases in the 24 hours to 8pm on Friday.
Four people also died, taking the NSW outbreak toll to 43.
NSW Police indicated it would from Monday be out in full force in affected local government areas, with officers able to impose fines of up to $5000 for breaching health orders.
Some 800 ADF personnel will also be out on the streets.
Deputy Premier John Barilaro announced the lockdown after rising numbers in regional areas and virus fragments were found in sewage systems in places with no known cases.
The enhanced police measures were implemented not for public health reasons but to help officers police lockdown measures, Premier Gladys Berejiklian admitted.
Police Minister David Elliott on Sunday said that every officer in NSW was now "compelled" to ensure lockdown compliance.
"From Tweed Heads to Albury," Mr Elliott told the Nine Network.
The Australian Medical Association had implored NSW to lock down the whole state, saying the health system could no longer manage the increase in COVID-19 case numbers.
"Our already fragile rural and regional health system will be unable to cope with increases in cases," AMA NSW President Danielle McMullen said in a statement.
Restrictions also tighten in Greater Sydney from next week, with exercise restricted from ten kilometres from home to five.
"Exercise means exercise, many people know that but unfortunately some people were trying to get around the rules imposed," Ms Berejiklian said on Saturday.
Ms Berejiklian also announced that people in Greater Sydney will need a permit to travel to regional NSW, and single people will need to register their "singles buddies".
The biggest increases in case numbers were in Blacktown, Doonside, Mount Druitt, Maryland, Guildford and Auburn.
Of the 466 new local cases, 87 people were in the community for all or part of the time they were infectious.
In newly-locked down regional areas, people must only leave their residence for an essential reason.
Everyone must carry masks at all times, no visitors are allowed in the home unless for carers' responsibilities or for compassionate reasons, and those in a relationship.
Deputy Premier John Barilaro said he hoped the regional NSW lockdown would not persist for longer than seven days.
Meanwhile, the federal government has announced that rapid antigen testing will be progressively rolled out in residential aged care facilities across Greater Sydney.
This would ensure more regular resident and visitor testing.
"Given the rate at which we know the Delta variant can be spread between people, the very fast turnaround of RAT - around 15 minutes - makes these tests useful in preventing asymptomatic transmission and outbreaks as they can be used on a daily basis," Health Minister Greg Hunt said.
Ms Berejiklian has previously stated a goal of six million vaccinations by month's end. More than five millions jabs have been administered in NSW to date.
© AAP 2021