Vaccination against COVID-19 is beginning to dampen down transmission of the virus in NSW, health authorities believe, as the state records an additional 1127 infections and two more deaths.
A man in his 50s and a woman in her 80s - both from western Sydney - died, taking the toll for the current NSW outbreak to 186, and 242 for the entirety of the pandemic.
There are 1253 COVID-19 patients in NSW hospitals, with 231 in intensive care and 104 on ventilators.
With almost 79 per cent of eligible residents at least partially vaccinated, NSW Health's Jeremy McAnulty said immunisation was placing downward pressure on daily infections.
He urged caution, however, saying daily infections had flattened in the past before surging again.
"We'd like to see a few more days before we can have confidence about whether there is a trend," he said on Tuesday.
A peak in daily infections is expected this week, with hospitalisations peaking in October and intensive care facilities soon afterwards.
"We're seeing pleasingly that cases haven't been increasing as fast as they had been, but that may be an effect of the weekend ... we'll see what's happening throughout the rest of the week," Dr McAnulty said.
The NSW government has already revealed its roadmap for restoring freedoms to the fully vaccinated at 70 per cent double-dose coverage, which is expected in about a month.
Additional freedoms will be restored at 80 per cent double-dose coverage, including the return of international travel.
Up to five fully vaccinated adults who live outside the 12 Sydney COVID-19 hotspot areas can now gather outdoors in their local area.
Vaccinated households that live in the 12 local government areas of concern can gather outdoors for recreation for two hours, outside curfew hours, and within five kilometres of home.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian has denied the unvaccinated would have their freedoms restored at 80 per cent double-dose vaccination coverage in NSW, saying details were still being finalised.
More than 46 per cent of those aged over 16 are fully jabbed, with a large chunk of second doses booked in for October.
The premier is meeting on Tuesday with the mayors from the 12 Sydney local government areas with the toughest restrictions, after previous requests to link up were rejected.
Canterbury Bankstown Mayor Khal Asfour says he has been trying for weeks to meet with the premier to raise issues including curfews, vaccinations, financial support and use of public facilities.
Deputy Premier John Barilaro will meet with regional mayors on Friday.
"Mayors tell us they have been ignored by the state government despite their work on the frontline to support communities through the COVID crisis," Local Government NSW president Linda Scott said.
Meanwhile, the state government has announced an additional $287.5 million in COVID-19 financial support to help workers and vulnerable communities in metropolitan, regional and rural NSW.
The funding will see COVID-19 emergency hardship payments, test and isolate support payments, and community grants expanded.
Opposition Leader Chris Minns told reporters Ms Berejiklian needed to again subject herself to media and parliamentary scrutiny, having ended her daily participation in COVID-19 press conferences.
Government MPs have also refused to return to NSW parliament until October 12, citing the risk of COVID-19 transmission.
Mr Minns said voters needed "a clear idea of the direction of the government" and that the state's leaders needed to be held to account.
Elsewhere, Yass Valley Council area in the Southern Tablelands has gone back into lockdown following a positive COVID-19 case. Virus fragments were also uncovered in nearby Young.
© AAP 2021