A dozen suburbs in the western Sydney council area of Penrith have been included in the government's "areas of concern" for COVID-19 transmission as daily NSW infections remain high.

NSW recorded 262 new local COVID-19 cases in the 24 hours to 8pm on Saturday, at least 72 of which in the community while infectious.

An unvaccinated woman in her 80s at the Wyoming Nursing Home in Summer Hill has died after catching the virus.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Sunday said 12 suburbs in the Penrith local government area would join eight western and southwestern Sydney council areas as COVID-19 areas of concern.

The suburbs include Caddens, Claremont Meadows, Colyton, Erskine Park, Kemps Creek, Kingswood, Mount Vernon, North St Marys, Orchard Hills, Oxley Park, St Clair and St Marys.

People in these suburbs can only leave the council area if they are authorised workers. They are also limited to shopping and exercising within 5km of home and must wear masks outside.

There are 129 active COVID-19 cases in the Penrith council area.

"They are suburbs which (have) boundaries to those eight local government areas and we want to make sure we stem the tide of the virus seeping into additional communities," Ms Berejiklian said.

However the Georges River council area may soon be removed as an area of concern given its low number of new infections.

Greater Sydney and its surrounding regions are in lockdown until at least August 28 as health authorities battle to contain a outbreak of the virulent Delta COVID-19 strain. The Hunter and Armidale regions are also enduring snap seven-day lockdowns.

There are 58 patients in NSW in intensive care, with 24 ventilated. Of those 58, none had been fully vaccinated.

Meanwhile, hundreds of young adults in Sydney have waited hours to receive an AstraZeneca jab as the outbreak drags on.

As Health Minister Brad Hazzard on Saturday urged people to get vaccinated, hundreds flocked to a walk-in clinic in Glebe.

NSW Health brought on eight extra vaccinators throughout the day to help shorten a queue running more than 100 metres. About 1000 people were vaccinated at the site over three days.

Almost 46 per cent of NSW residents over 16 have had at least one vaccine dose, up from 40.95 per cent a week ago.

Almost 23 per cent of eligible residents are fully vaccinated.

Ms Berejiklian on Sunday reiterated that vaccination was the primary means by which to bring the pandemic to an end.

She also contradicted Prime Minister Scott Morrison's pre-outbreak comments that the vaccination program was "not a race".

Mr Morrison's government is responsible for Australia's vaccination program, which is among the slowest in the developed world.

"We are keen to really sprint. This is a race," Ms Berejiklian said.

"Not only does (the vaccine) keep people out of hospital, it also prevents the virus spreading, prevents people getting the virus."

While NSW could not consider returning to pre-pandemic freedoms until it reached 70 per cent vaccination coverage, Ms Berejiklian said some restrictions could be eased with a 50 per cent rate.

Her government hopes to hit six million jabs by month's end, which would require administering an average of 65,000 jabs each day.

"It doesn't mean we'll return to pre-outbreak conditions - it means September can be a month where we have greater freedom," she said.

"There are two things conditional on that - making sure that we keep case numbers as low as possible, plus we keep vaccinating.

"We know in the future, freedom relies on vaccination."

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NSW has reported 262 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 and at least 72 of those people were circulating in the community for all or part of their infectious period.

An unvaccinated woman in her 80s at the Wyoming Nursing Home in Summer Hill has also died, taking the toll for the current outbreak to at least 28.

Greater Sydney and surrounding regions are in lockdown until at least August 28 as health authorities battle to contain a outbreak of the virulent Delta strain.

The NSW Hunter and the Armidale region are also enduring snap week-long lockdowns.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian said 12 suburbs in the Penrith local government area would be added to the "areas of concern" list, prompting harsher restrictions for local residents.

However the Georges River council area may soon be taken off the list.

"As we have seen in the last few days, the numbers are bouncing around a bit but clearly we need to reduce those numbers," Ms Berejiklian said.

"I urge everybody to please stick to the rules, the health advice, and only leave home if you absolutely have to."

There are 58 patients in NSW in intensive care, with 24 ventilated.

Meanwhile, hundreds of young adults in Sydney have waited hours to receive an AstraZeneca jab as the outbreak shows no signs of abating.

As Health Minister Brad Hazzard on Saturday urged all residents to "stay home and get vaccinated", hundreds flocked to a walk-in vaccine clinic requiring no GP referral in Glebe.

NSW Health brought on eight extra vaccinators throughout the day to help shorten a queue running more than 100 metres.

The centre vaccinated almost 1000 people over the three days it was open.

More than 100 people were still waiting in line when it was scheduled to close at 4pm. They all received their jab, according to the Sydney Local Health District.

The centre was one of five walk-in locations open on Saturday across Sydney's inner west, west and southwest.

About 45 per cent of NSW residents over 16 have been vaccinated against COVID-19 at least once, up from 40.95 per cent a week ago.

© AAP 2021

While putting the world on hold, COVID-19 hasn't been able to lock down love, according to the latest relationship research.

A study commissioned by online dating website eharmony and relationship services provider Interrelate has found Australian couples have overwhelmingly stuck solid during the pandemic.

Some 90 per cent of those surveyed say they've remained stable or improved their relationship since early 2020.

For the 92 per cent of couples who cohabited over the past year, coping side-by-side 24/7 generally hasn't been an issue.

In fact, non-stop companionship mostly seems to have worked in their favour, with 57 per cent enjoying more open and honest conversations, a stronger emotional connection and a sense of becoming more of a team.

"Quality time is hard to come by in modern society and the global pandemic allowed couples to spend those moments together that they normally wouldn't," eharmony spokesperson Sharon Draper said.

"Lockdowns force a degree of closeness on them that they may not see otherwise.

"That time together can allow couples to relax and open up to each other, leading to effective communication and allowing each individual to be themselves."

Couples with kids also grew more connected, with 45 per cent feeling closer to their whole family with their children home.

Thirty per cent said they learned more about their partner as a parent while home together.

Additional Interrelate research found parents 94 per cent more likely to have positive sentiments around their family connections, with 68 per cent of couples seeing partners more since the start of the pandemic.

"COVID-19 presented significant complexities for all relationships but we have certainly seen the desire for connection within couples and family units has been heightened," the company's research and innovation head Sharon Grocott said.

New romance is also faring well, with 12 per cent of those together a year or less already looking to purchase a house together, marry or start a family within six months.

Australian singles looking for love seem to want what they have too, with 46 per cent open to meeting 'the one' as the world reopens.

Researchers found lockdown love, at least for now, may even be helping consign flings to a thing of the past, with 80 per cent of singles giving casual relationships the flick post-2020.

In fact, 39 per cent say they no longer want to waste time playing the field and would rather find 'the one' to settle down with as soon as possible.

© AAP 2021

A man has been charged and police are still looking for his female accomplice after a spree of early evening knifepoint hold-ups in central Sydney.

The 24-year-old man faces multiple charges, including armed robbery and aggravated assault after a series of attacks that took place over a few hours.

One woman was punched in the face and had her purse and bottle of wine stolen while four other men were threatened or assaulted in the attacks.

Two of those men also had property stolen.

The attacks occurred between 5pm and 9pm on Thursday at various locations in Sydney's CBD and inner west.

The man is due to appear in Parramatta Local Court on Saturday.

© AAP 2021