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Australia is on the precipice of the grim milestone of 10,000 COVID-19 related deaths, with more than 7000 fatalities reported in the last six months.

Australia has reported 7677 deaths over the course of 2022, taking the country's total to 9930.

There were also 909 COVID-19 related fatalities in 2020 and 1344 in 2021.

"We are going to actually end up with about 14,000 deaths this year from COVID if we keep going at this rate," Griffith University infectious diseases and immunology program director Nigel McMillan told AAP.

"That will make COVID the number two or number three killer in the country of all causes of deaths.

"Is this what success looks like for Australia in terms of its control of this virus? I would suggest no."

Prof McMillan said booster uptake is not good enough in states such as Queensland - the lowest in the country at about 63 per cent.

The state with the highest booster uptake is Western Australia, at 83 per cent, with other states and territories falling somewhere in between.

"We just seem to have become comfortable with the idea that we're stopping vaccine mandates for all sorts of places, we have loosened our mask restrictions," he said.

"So we have very little in the way of the virus at the moment in terms of (stopping) the virus spreading."

Queensland Chief Health Officer John Gerrard said he did not want a return to mask mandates, but he admitted the possibility was being talked about.

"It is something that is still being discussed but ... we would prefer not to go down that road," he told Brisbane 4BC radio on Friday.

Federal Labor minister Murray Watt said on Saturday the government had not received any health advice on mask mandates and those decisions tended to be made by state governments.

"I know that this is something that health officials have been discussing nationally," he said.

Prof McMillan suggested policy tweaks be made to the public health system, including widening the availability of antivirals beyond people with comorbidities.

Australia is experiencing a succession of Omicron variants that have kept infection rates high, Deakin University epidemiology chair Catherine Bennett said.

However Australia ranked low in deaths per capita when compared to other countries, she said.

"Whether we look at the total COVID-19 deaths per case, or deaths per capita, Australia sits low on the league tables, together with New Zealand, Taiwan and Japan," Prof Bennett said.

Australia's daily death rates per capita were comparable to the UK and Canada, and lower than France - countries currently in summer and reporting declines in case numbers, she said.

"It is critical that we learn more about those who are ending up in hospital or not surviving their infections, so that we can identify what needs to be done to avoid preventable deaths and bring the case fatality rate down."

LATEST 24-HOUR COVID-19 DATA:

NSW: 11,085 cases, 20 deaths, 1621 in hospital with 45 in ICU

Victoria: 6424 cases, 13 deaths, 462 in hospital with 18 in ICU

Tasmania: 1144 cases, two deaths, 47 in hospital with five in ICU

NT: 240 cases, no deaths, 17 in hospital with none in ICU

SA: 2642 cases, no deaths, 231 in hospital with eight in ICU

WA: 4878 cases, three deaths, 218 in hospital with 10 in ICU

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Two Australian Defence Force helicopters will be available to assist with rescues as areas of NSW brace for intense rainfall and possible flooding.

The federal government approved ADF support at the request of NSW on Friday night, with 100 troops also available from Sunday onwards, Emergency Management Minister Murray Watt said.

There is a risk of severe flooding around the Illawarra and Sydney as well as the Hawkesbury and Nepean regions from Sunday through to next week.

"I want to assure people that the federal government ... is 100 per cent prepared for what might lie ahead," Mr Watt said from Brisbane on Saturday.

"One of the things that we've learned over the last couple of years is that when we don't have a federal government that takes responsibility and isn't proactive, bad things can happen."

More than 200 millimetres of rain fell south of Wollongong overnight, and there are warnings for six hour totals of between 80 and 150 millimetres in Sydney and the Illawarra.

Mr Watt said he was hopeful the ADF resources wouldn't be needed, but they will be ready to assist.

"We're not exactly sure how this weather event will pan out, but it could be quite serious over the next couple of days," he said.

The weather system comes on the first weekend of school holidays in the state, and drivers are being asked to take extreme caution.

"We know floodwater is extremely dangerous, especially for drivers. If the road is flooded, turn around and find another way," Transport for NSW's Roger Weeks says.

Routes in and out of Sydney are likely to have congestion and heavy traffic is expected at known pinch points, particularly around Sydney Airport.

Hazardous surf and swell conditions could also develop in coming days.

The Bureau of Meteorology said the system may develop into a low on Sunday or Monday, prolonging the persistent rain into next week.

Heavy falls across the weekend could to lead to rising river levels as the deluge hits multiple already-saturated catchments.

"We know these are quite dangerous systems," Bureau of Meteorology Manager of Hazard Preparedness and Response Jane Golding told media on Friday.

Ms Golding said the deluge could lead to flash flooding and landslips.

Flooding is possible for the Hunter, Central Coast, the Greater Sydney region and the South Coast from Saturday, with flood watches in place for catchments between Newcastle and Batemans Bay, including Sydney and the Illawarra.

Areas at risk include Newcastle, the Central Coast, Lake Macquarie, the Upper Coxs, Colo, Macdonald, Woronora, Patterson, Williams and Lower Hunter rivers.

Also at risk are the Upper and Lower Nepean and Hawkesbury rivers.

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NSW residents are being warned the current bout of wet weather hitting the east coast is only going to get worse, with more rain, powerful winds and surging seas on the way.

Two Australian Defence Force helicopters will be available to assist with rescues as areas of the state brace for intense rainfall and possible flooding.

Three flood rescues have already been performed since Friday, with people along parts of the Hawkesbury River being warned they face a major flood risk.

NSW Emergency Minister Steph Cooke said flash flooding could occur anywhere from Newcastle to Jervis Bay.

"We are all waiting nervously to see what eventuates," she said on Saturday, adding she remained confident emergency services were prepared for what was coming.

The Bureau of Meteorology's Jane Golding said there would be a "deterioration" of weather overnight, with a risk of flash flooding and landslips.

"The rainfall rates will increase," she said.

"We'll start to see the wind increase as well. We'll see the seas whipped up and we'll see the rivers respond to the rain that's falling."

The federal government approved ADF support at the request of NSW on Friday night, with 100 troops available from Sunday onwards, Emergency Management Minister Murray Watt said.

There is a risk of severe flooding around Sydney and the Illawarra, as well as the Hawkesbury and Nepean regions from Sunday through to next week.

"I want to assure people that the federal government ... is 100 per cent prepared for what might lie ahead," Senator Watt said from Brisbane on Saturday.

"One of the things that we've learned over the last couple of years is that when we don't have a federal government that takes responsibility and isn't proactive, bad things can happen."

More than 200 millimetres of rain fell south of Wollongong overnight, and there are warnings for six-hour totals of between 80 and 150 millimetres in Sydney and the Illawarra.

The weather system comes on the first weekend of school holidays in the state, and drivers are being urged to take extreme caution.

"We know floodwater is extremely dangerous, especially for drivers. If the road is flooded, turn around and find another way," Transport for NSW's Roger Weeks said.

Routes in and out of Sydney are likely to have congestion, with heavy traffic expected at known pinch-points, particularly around the airport.

Hazardous surf and swell conditions are also expected.

The Bureau of Meteorology said the system may develop on Sunday or Monday, prolonging the persistent rain into next week.

Flooding is possible for the Hunter, Central Coast, the Greater Sydney region and the South Coast from Saturday, with flood watches in place for catchments between Newcastle and Batemans Bay, including Sydney and the Illawarra.

Areas at risk include Newcastle, the Central Coast, Lake Macquarie, the Upper Coxs, Colo, Macdonald, Woronora, Patterson, Williams and Lower Hunter rivers.

Also at risk are the Upper and Lower Nepean and Hawkesbury rivers.

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Residents in southwest Sydney have been told to evacuate as heavy rain gripping the NSW east coast sparks flood warnings across the area.

People in low-lying parts of Camden, some 65km from central Sydney, were advised to vacate the area on Saturday evening, with the State Emergency Service warning they may soon be cut off by floodwaters.

Authorities warned earlier on Saturday the current bout of wet weather was only going to get worse, with more rain, powerful winds and surging seas on the way.

Several flood warnings have been issued in areas south and west of Sydney, including a major alert for Douglas Park along the Nepean River west of Wollongong.

Two Australian Defence Force helicopters are on standby as areas of the state brace for more intense rainfall and possible flooding.

Three rescues have been performed since Friday, with people along parts of the Hawkesbury River being warned they face a major threat from rising waters.

NSW Emergency Minister Steph Cooke said flash flooding could occur anywhere from Newcastle to Jervis Bay.

"We are all waiting nervously to see what eventuates," she said on Saturday, adding she remained confident emergency services were prepared for what was coming.

The Bureau of Meteorology's Jane Golding said there would be a "deterioration" of weather overnight, with a risk of flash flooding and landslips.

"The rainfall rates will increase," she said.

"We'll start to see the wind increase as well. We'll see the seas whipped up and we'll see the rivers respond to the rain that's falling."

The federal government approved ADF support at the request of NSW on Friday night, with 100 troops available from Sunday onwards, Emergency Management Minister Murray Watt said.

"I want to assure people that the federal government ... is 100 per cent prepared for what might lie ahead," Senator Watt said from Brisbane on Saturday.

More than 200 millimetres of rain fell south of Wollongong overnight, and there were warnings for six-hour totals of between 80 and 150 millimetres in Sydney and the Illawarra.

The deluge comes on the first weekend of school holidays in the state, and drivers are being urged to take extra care.

"We know floodwater is extremely dangerous, especially for drivers. If the road is flooded, turn around and find another way," Transport for NSW's Roger Weeks said.

Routes in and out of Sydney are likely to face congestion, with heavy traffic expected at known pinch-points, particularly around the airport.

Hazardous surf conditions are also expected.

The Bureau of Meteorology said the system may develop on Sunday or Monday, prolonging the persistent rain into next week.

Flooding is possible for the Hunter, Central Coast, the Greater Sydney region and the South Coast from Saturday, with flood watches in place for catchments between Newcastle and Batemans Bay, including Sydney and the Illawarra.

Areas at risk include Newcastle, the Central Coast, Lake Macquarie, the Upper Coxs, Colo, Macdonald, Woronora, Patterson, Williams and Lower Hunter rivers.

Also at risk are the Upper and Lower Nepean and Hawkesbury rivers.

© AAP 2022