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NSW has reported a "disturbingly high" 478 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19, on another record-breaking day with escalating transmissions and eight deaths.

At least 91 of the new cases were circulating in the community for all or part of their infectious period in the 24 hours to 8pm on Sunday.

Among the eight dead was 15-year-old Osama Suduh, the youngest person in Australia to die with the virus.

Three men in their 80s, a man in his 40s, a man in his 70s, a woman in her 70s, and a woman in her 80s make up the other deaths.

The teenager from southwest Sydney died after contracting pneumococcal meningitis and while he also had COVID-19, it was not the reason for his admission or cause of death.

Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said while he was vaccinated for that bacterial infection, it may not have covered the particular strain involved in his death.

He was too young to be vaccinated for COVID-19.

Dr Chant confirmed an outbreak in a mental health facility at Nepean Hospital in Penrith, along with another ward, had caused 30 cases there.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian described the transmission numbers as "disturbingly high" and warned case numbers in the thousands could occur if people continued to flout public health orders.

"We absolutely could if people keep ignoring the rules."

Escalating cases were recorded in Greenacre, Bankstown, Merrylands, Guildford, Granville, Blacktown, Mount Druitt and Yagoona.

"We need people in those communities to just stay home," she said.

The death toll is now at 56 for this outbreak, which began mid-June, and half of all NSW COVID-19 deaths have come in this outbreak.

All of NSW was placed under strict lockdown on Saturday for one week while Greater Sydney and surrounding regions are in lockdown until at least August 28.

The premier defended announcing the precautionary statewide lockdown on social media and not at her press conference beforehand, saying she was advised after it occurred of additional areas of concern.

"There would have only been a handful of local government areas that weren't affected in regional NSW and it's important for us to make sure we get the message out as quickly as possible."

Police Commissioner Mick Fuller said almost 18,000 police were being supported by 800 members of the Australian Defence Force to enforce health orders.

Police had until now been issuing four cautions for every ticket, but Mr Fuller flagged a tougher approach, saying it reaches a point "where you say people aren't getting this".

"In fairness, I have asked officers to be active in terms of taking strong action," he said.

But authorities still had discretion and would continue recording reasons for both taking action or not, with a focus on LGAs of concern.

Tougher non-compliance fines up to $5000 are now in place as Greater Sydney begins its eighth week of lockdown.

Police issued 500 fines on Sunday, including 31 to teens at an eastern Sydney beachside party.

People in Greater Sydney are now limited to exercise or shopping within five kilometres of their home and they need a permit to travel to regional NSW, while single people in 12 LGA hotspots will need to register their "single buddies".

A test and isolate payment of $320 will also start this week for workers 17 and over who have symptoms of COVID-19 and live in government areas of concern.

Numerous COVID-19 exposure sites were identified overnight at Mudgee, Orange and Bathurst.

There are also increasing concerns for Dubbo and Walgett, with high levels of Indigenous Australians who are not adequately vaccinated, as well as a case at Bourke.

"I'm particularly concerned at the moment around Dubbo and the impact COVID is having on Aboriginal communities in Dubbo," Dr Chant said.

© AAP 2021

Australian rugby great Toutai Kefu has undergone emergency surgery in hospital after being stabbed in the stomach in his Brisbane home when he disturbed a burglary.

The former Wallabies player was left in a critical condition while trying to defend his family on Monday morning, and is now at the Princess Alexandra Hospital.

Two 15-year-old boys are in custody, while another juvenile, believed to be a male, fled the scene in Coorparoo shortly after 3am.

Detective Superintendent Tony Fleming says the family woke to noises within the house and Kefu went to investigate.

"That person was accosted by at least one of the offenders in the premises and threatened to be stabbed if they didn't hand over vehicle keys," he said.

"Other members of the family came to that person's aid and during this time, very significant injuries occurred to the family."

Police allege Kefu suffered "very serious wounds" to his abdomen and three other people were injured in the attack. A man in his 20s suffered abdominal and back lacerations, a woman in her 40s significantly injured her arm, and a teenage girl was left with a hand injury.

Dr Stephen Rashford, medical director for Queensland Amublance Service, says emergency crews were dispatched following calls from police to attend a mass-casualty wounding.

"Two of the family members were transported to hospital in priority condition," he said.

"This was an incredibly frightening occurrence for this family and this level of violence is unacceptable in our society.

Police were told neighbours came to the aid of the family and caught one of the offenders, who was armed with a knife.

That teen was arrested, and police retrieved a knife and an axe at the crime scene and also believe a machete was used, though it wasn't recovered.

Another of the boys was arrested by police and is under guard after presenting to the Princess Alexandra Hospital with a laceration.

The person who drove that teen to hospital is wanted by police over their suspected involvement in the alleged home invasion.

It's also alleged the pair had been out on bail under curfew conditions.

In the early hours of Monday, a silver Hyundai iX35 was stolen from the Forest Lake area and police believe this was the car used to take the offenders to Kefu's property.

"I do expect that we will be looking at offences of burglary, and as a result of the allegations and the wounds and the nature of the information known to us, attempted murder on the family," Det Supt Fleming said.

"We have a large number of officers dedicated to this now and we will be working to take these people in custody and I expect that we will be making the strongest objection to the court that they remain in custody."

Police could not confirm whether the juvenile offenders were equipped with GPS trackers under their bail conditions .

"I certainly haven't been told that they were on GPS trackers and if they were, I would expect that I would know that," Det Supt Fleming said.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk passed on her thoughts and prayers to Kefu and his family, while members of the rugby community have also paid tribute to him.

Kefu played 60 tests for Australia over a seven-year career.

© AAP 2021

Australia's coronavirus battle has suffered multiple blows with the NSW crisis intensifying and more restrictions imposed around the nation.

NSW reported a record 478 new local cases and seven deaths on Monday, while a 15-year-old boy with coronavirus died from meningitis.

The entire state is in lockdown.

Melbourne recorded 22 new locally acquired infections, prompting the Victorian government to reimpose a curfew and extend its lockdown for another two weeks.

Playgrounds will be closed and work permits reintroduced.

Canberra's lockdown will also be extended until at least September 2 after 19 new local cases were detected in the ACT.

Darwin and Katherine will be locked down for three days after a man who spent four days in the community while infectious tested positive.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison hit out at WA Premier Mark McGowan, who is planning to pursue a goal of zero cases even when vaccination coverage reaches 80 per cent.

"The idea that you can just let this thing rip is absurd, just as absurd as the idea you can get to COVID zero," he told 2GB radio.

"They're both extreme positions. They're both absurd."

Mr Morrison said a zero-COVID target was never Australia's strategy, with the nation in a suppression phase while vaccination rates remain low.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has conceded her state will not eradicate the virus, while her Victorian counterpart Daniel Andrews agrees.

Federal, state and territory governments have backed targets of 70 and 80 per cent to reduce the possibility of lockdowns and reopen the country.

Mr Morrison said Doherty Institute and Treasury modelling underpinning the national cabinet agreement was clear about the targets' importance.

"Once you hit those levels, it is neither in our health or economic interests to go down that path," he told the ABC.

Mr McGowan said the national cabinet agreement left the door open to targeted lockdowns when 80 per cent vaccination coverage was reached.

"We will keep that as one of our weapons in the situation we're in," he told reporters.

The institute's epidemiology director Jodie McVernon cast doubt on whether the WA goal was achievable.

"My personal view is, that's a very difficult promise to keep," she told ABC radio.

The prime minister said all governments agreed to the reopening strategy three times.

"That's the deal that all premiers and chief ministers have signed up to and made that commitment to their own citizens," Mr Morrison said.

More than half of the one million Pfizer doses Australia will receive from Poland arrived overnight, with the balance to touch down on Tuesday.

About 530,000 will be rushed to 12 Sydney hot spots for people aged 20 to 39, while the rest will be shared across the country based on population.

Australia has vaccinated 26 per cent of its population aged 16 and above, while 47.7 per cent have had a single jab.

Labor leader Anthony Albanese said the new doses amounted to one week's supply and lamented the consequences of the government's slow rollout.

© AAP 2021