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NSW has reported 20,794 new COVID-19 cases and four more deaths, as authorities asked residents to avoid putting unnecessary pressure on the stressed health system.

With 1204 people hospitalised with the virus on Monday - up from 1066 the day before - and more than 2500 health workers furloughed, the health system is under strain.

"We are seeing health systems around the world put under stress and whilst we are very well placed ... it is important that we all play our part in not placing unnecessary burden on the health system," Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said on Monday.

People should avoid going to the emergency department to seek PCR tests for COVID-19 if they're not unwell, Dr Chant said.

"That potentially compromises the care of those that need it," she said.

"I know that people want to know what their diagnosis is ... but can you also just think about some of the implications of those actions."

Dr Chant reassured NSW residents that the health system is available for those who need it, urging people with health concerns not to delay seeking treatment.

NSW deputy Labor Leader Prue Car - who is still awaiting PCR confirmation of a positive rapid antigen test from December 31 - called the government's testing regime a joke.

Ms Car questioned why resources weren't increased if the health minister expected a spike after saying everyone would get Omicron.

"People want to do the right thing and get tested ... but they can't actually get the test," she told 2GB on Monday.

"It's no wonder people are frustrated."

As of December 30, 2510 healthcare workers were in isolation after being exposed to COVID-19.

Intensive care numbers jumped by 12 to 95 overnight. Twenty-five people are on ventilators.

Not all those in hospital with coronavirus were admitted for treatment for COVID-19, according to new data.

NSW Health says that a small sampling of hospital patients with COVID-19 in two local health districts over the past two weeks shows that some were admitted for unrelated illness or injury.

They include women giving birth, people seeking mental health care, and people with appendicitis or bowel obstruction, a NSW Health spokesperson said in a statement.

The agency did not respond to questions about whether a similar proportion of hospitalisations during the Delta wave was primarily for other reasons.

The spokesperson said as case numbers rise, it's to be expected that some patients will present with other conditions as their primary reason for seeking health care.

Opposition Leader Chris Minns said it was "not immaterial" that there was a rising number of admissions throughout the hospital system.

A high rate of COVID-19 among hospital patients still means extra measures must be taken by frontline workers to keep themselves and others safe, even if patients were admitted for other reasons, he said on Monday.

Dr Chant also urged parents to get their children vaccinated before school returns in four weeks.

The vaccination rate for children aged 12 to 15 had been "stubborn", lingering around 80 per cent, she said.

"We would like to see children fully vaccinated to commence the school year and because of the interval you need to act now so they can get the two doses in," she said.

The latest figures show 95 per cent of NSW residents aged 16 and over have had one dose of the vaccine and 93.6 per cent have had two doses.

The new cases were diagnosed from 96,765 tests processed in the 24 hours to 8pm on Sunday.

The four deaths included two people in their 70s and one each in their 80s and 90s.

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NSW has recorded 20,794 new COVID-19 cases and four more deaths from the virus.

The cases were diagnosed from 96,765 tests processed in the 24 hours to 8pm on Sunday.

It's a rise of 2516 from the previous day's tally, but still short of the peak of 22,577 on New Year's Day.

There are currently 1204 people in NSW hospitals with the virus, up from 1066 the day before.

Intensive care numbers have jumped by 12 to 95 overnight.

However, a new small study shows that not all those in hospital with coronavirus were admitted for treatment for COVID-19.

Some patients in hospital with COVID-19 were admitted for unrelated illness or injury, a small sampling of patients in two local health districts taken by NSW Health over the past two weeks shows.

Among the people being counted as COVID-19 hospitalisations are women in labour, people seeking mental health support and care, and people with appendicitis or bowel obstruction, NSW Health said in a statement.

The agency did not respond to questions about whether a similar proportion of hospitalisations during the Delta wave was primarily for other reasons.

"It is to be expected that as COVID-19 cases in the community increase some patients will present with conditions other than COVID-19 as their primary reasons for seeking health care," a NSW Health spokesperson said in a statement.

In any case, the health system is under pressure due to staff shortages amid rising hospitalisations.

Australian Medical Association vice president Chris Moy said the system was "struggling" with staff shortages as case numbers rise and health workers fall sick, test positive or are identified as close contacts.

"People look at the numbers and see the 1066 in hospitals but the health system doesn't just look after COVID and people are having critical surgery delayed," he told AAP.

At the peak of the Delta outbreak on September 21, there were 1266 people hospitalised with infections, and 244 in intensive care.

A NSW Health spokesperson said as of December 30, 2510 healthcare workers were in isolation after being exposed to COVID-19.

Exemptions may be given in exceptional circumstances for healthcare employees who are deemed critical and who cannot work from home but only if they are asymptomatic, the spokesperson says.

Dr Moy said NSW Health's policy change showed the "desperation" to fill up rosters.

Some 93.6 per cent of adult NSW residents have now had two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, while the 12-to-15-year-old age bracket has moved to 78.2 per cent having received two doses.

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The NSW road toll fell in 2021 to the lowest number in nearly a century.

Some 270 people lost their lives on the state's roads last year, 14 fewer than the previous year.

It's the smallest road toll since 1923.

The number means the NSW government has met its 2012 goal of reducing road deaths by 30 per cent.

Deputy Premier Paul Toole says the reduction of the road toll over the past decade means hundreds of lives have been saved.

"An additional 725 people would have died on NSW roads in the past 10 years had the state's road toll remained at the same level as it was between 2008 and 2010 - that's 725 people who would be missing around the family dinner table," he said in a statement.

A months-long COVID-19 lockdown across the state made 2021 an unusual year.

But Metropolitan Roads Minister Natalie Ward says NSW was on track to achieve record low fatalities even before the lockdown.

"During the first six months of 2021, there was a record low 139 people killed on NSW roads, 25 less than the average number of people between 2018 and 2020," Ms Ward said.

Ms Ward said the statistics showed that the government's $822 million Safer Roads program was working.

The program involves reducing speed limits in cities, upgrading safety features at intersections, and slowing down traffic with pedestrian refuges and crossings.

Mr Toole said even one life lost on the roads was too many, pledging to work to take the toll down to zero.

He urged drivers and motorcycle riders to stick to the speed limit, wear helmets and seatbelts, put phones away and never drive if affected by drugs or alcohol.

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The NSW health system is facing staff shortages, the peak medical association has warned as COVID-19 hospitalisations passed 1000.

As of Sunday, 1066 people were in hospital with the coronavirus including 83 in intensive care, 24 of whom require ventilation.

Australian Medical Association vice president Chris Moy said the system was "struggling" with staff shortages as case numbers rise and health workers fall sick, test positive or are identified as close contacts.

"People look at the numbers and see the 1066 in hospitals but the health system doesn't just look after COVID and people are having critical surgery delayed," he told AAP.

At the peak of the Delta outbreak on September 21, there were 1266 people hospitalised with infections, and 244 in intensive care.

A NSW Health spokesperson said as of December 30, 2510 healthcare workers were in isolation after being exposed to COVID-19.

Exemptions may be given in exceptional circumstances for healthcare employees who are deemed critical and who cannot work from home but only if they are asymptomatic, the spokesperson says.

Dr Moy said NSW Health's policy change showed the "desperation" to fill up rosters.

Not all of the 1066 people in hospital with coronavirus were admitted for treatment for COVID-19, new research has revealed.

Some patients in hospital with COVID-19 were admitted for unrelated illness or injury, a small sampling of patients in two local health districts taken by NSW Health over the past two weeks shows.

Among the people being counted as COVID-19 hospitalisations are women in labour, people seeking mental health support and care, and people with appendicitis or bowel obstruction, NSW Health said in a statement.

The agency did not respond to questions about whether a similar proportion of hospitalisations during the Delta wave were primarily for other reasons.

"It is to be expected that as COVID-19 cases in the community increase some patients will present with conditions other than COVID-19 as their primary reasons for seeking health care," a NSW Health spokesperson said in a statement.

NSW recorded two more deaths and 18,278 new infections on Sunday.

Testing numbers to 8pm on New Year's Day were down to 90,019, a drop from 119,278 on New Year's Eve.

Some 93.6 per cent of adult NSW residents have now had two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, while the 12-to-15-year-old age bracket has moved to 78.2 per cent having received two doses.

Almost 14,000 of the cases reported on Sunday were in Sydney while 1342 were in the Hunter New England local health district, 780 in the Nepean Blue Mountains and 414 in the Central Coast districts.

There were hundreds of cases in the Illawarra Shoalhaven and Northern NSW health districts as well as on the Mid North Coast.

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