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Sydney has avoided a lockdown despite Gladys Berejiklian saying NSW was in the "scariest" period since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

Despite widespread speculation that Sydney was on the brink of another lockdown, the premier held her nerve but flagged a police blitz to nab anyone defying tough new restrictions announced on Wednesday.

"Since the pandemic has started, this is perhaps the scariest period that NSW is going through," she told reporters on Thursday.

"It is a very contagious (Delta) variant but at the same time we are at this stage comfortable that the settings that are in place are the appropriate settings, but that is so long as everybody does the right thing."

NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said a lockdown wasn't required because there weren't large numbers of unlinked cases nor a backlog of contact tracing.

There were 18 new cases recorded from 48,402 tests in the 24 hours to 8pm on Wednesday, 13 of which were announced earlier.

Another six cases were detected after the 8pm cut off which will be included in Friday's official tally.

That means there's a total of 11 new cases linked to the outbreak that began in Bondi last week that now stands at 36 after rapidly spreading in Sydney's east before infiltrating other areas.

Of the new cases, all but one are linked to a known case or the Bondi cluster, with urgent investigations underway into how a man in his 40s caught the virus. He's the second man in as many days who has contracted the virus from an unknown source.

Ms Berejiklian revealed she had tested negative to the virus after one of her cabinet ministers tested positive, sending shock waves through NSW Parliament House.

Agriculture Minister Adam Marshall confirmed he has the virus after dining with three Nationals' colleagues on Monday night at an eastern Sydney pizzeria that was later declared a hotspot.

Trevor Khan, Steph Cooke and Ben Franklin have all since tested negative.

Mr Marshall issued a statement saying he had been isolating at his Sydney flat since Tuesday night and won't return to his Armidale home for at least 14 days. His staff are also in isolation.

Speaking to the ABC, Mr Marshall said he was physically fine and asymptomatic, but was concerned for everyone at parliament.

"It just highlights again everything that has been said about this new Delta variant is true," he said.

"The place where I caught it was a place where I had no physical contact with anyone at any time and yet I am now positive for COVID-19."

The diagnosis sent several MPs into isolation, including Health Minister Brad Hazzard, who later tested negative.

Parliament House workers were told to stay home on Thursday while a skeleton staff of MPs underwent rapid testing to allow the NSW budget to be passed.

Opposition Leader Chris Minns postponed his budget reply speech due on Thursday.

"All sides agree now is not the time for politics ... we need to get through what is a very difficult health situation in Sydney," he told Sydney radio 2GB.

Lower house Speaker Jonothan O'Dea on Thursday afternoon said no further MPs had tested positive, but some were still awaiting results.

A Nationals budget dinner attended by Mr Marshall before he knew he was infectious on Tuesday night potentially exposed dozens of MPs to the virus.

Ms Berejiklian said she'd given a speech at the event but had "zero contact" with Mr Marshall and had been deemed a casual contact.

Police also confirmed they were carrying out checks to ensure people were doing the right thing, issuing about 150 cautions to people for not wearing masks on public transport and other places.

Police also warned that during school holidays highway patrol would be checking people weren't breaking orders not to travel outside of Sydney.

A ban remains in place for non-essential travel outside of Sydney for people living or working in seven council areas that have been declared hotspots.

Masks are mandatory on public transport, at all indoor venues apart from homes and homes have a five person limit on visitors.

© AAP 2021

Sydney has avoided a lockdown despite Gladys Berejiklian saying NSW was in the "scariest" period since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

The number of cases linked to the Bondi cluster has grown to at least 36, including a government minister, prompting state parliament to be declared a venue of concern on one of its busiest days of the year.

NSW Health on Thursday afternoon warned anyone who visited parliament on Tuesday - state budget day - must monitor for symptoms and if they occur, get tested and isolate until they receive a negative result.

Anyone who visited the Strangers' Dining Room at parliament between 6pm and 9pm must immediately get tested and self-isolate until they receive further information from NSW Health.

Agriculture Minister Adam Marshall confirmed he has the virus after dining with three Nationals colleagues on Monday night at an eastern Sydney pizzeria that was later declared a hotspot.

Trevor Khan, Steph Cooke and Ben Franklin have all since tested negative.

Mr Marshall issued a statement saying he had been isolating at his Sydney flat since Tuesday night and won't return to his Armidale home for at least 14 days. His staff are also in isolation.

Speaking to the ABC, Mr Marshall said he was physically fine and asymptomatic, but was concerned for everyone at parliament.

"It just highlights again everything that has been said about this new Delta variant is true," he said.

"The place where I caught it was a place where I had no physical contact with anyone at any time and yet I am now positive for COVID-19."

A Nationals budget dinner attended by Mr Marshall before he knew he was infectious on Tuesday night potentially exposed dozens of MPs to the virus.

Parliament House workers were told to stay home on Thursday while a skeleton staff of MPs underwent rapid testing to allow the NSW budget to be passed.

Opposition Leader Chris Minns postponed his budget reply speech due on Thursday.

Lower house Speaker Jonathan O'Dea on Thursday afternoon said no further MPs had tested positive, but some were still awaiting results.

The premier said she'd given a speech at the event but had "zero contact" with Mr Marshall and had been deemed a casual contact.

There were 18 new cases recorded from 48,402 tests in the 24 hours to 8pm on Wednesday, 13 of which were announced earlier.

Another six cases were detected after the 8pm cut-off which will be included in Friday's official tally.

That means there's a total of 11 new cases linked to the outbreak that began in Bondi last week that now stands at 36 after rapidly spreading in Sydney's east before infiltrating other areas.

Of the new cases, all but one are linked to a known case or the Bondi cluster, with urgent investigations under way into how a man in his 40s caught the virus. He's the second man in as many days who has contracted the virus from an unknown source.

Despite widespread speculation that Sydney was on the brink of another lockdown, the premier held her nerve but flagged a police blitz to nab anyone defying tough new restrictions announced on Wednesday.

"Since the pandemic has started, this is perhaps the scariest period that NSW is going through," she told reporters on Thursday.

"It is a very contagious (Delta) variant but at the same time we are at this stage comfortable that the settings that are in place are the appropriate settings, but that is so long as everybody does the right thing."

NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said a lockdown wasn't required because there weren't large numbers of unlinked cases nor a backlog of contact tracing.

Police also confirmed they were increasing compliance checks on mask-wearing and check ins, and would be out in force on the roads over the school holidays to ensure people weren't breaking orders not to travel outside of Sydney.

A ban remains in place for non-essential travel outside Sydney for people living or working in seven council areas that have been declared hotspots.

Masks are mandatory on public transport and at all indoor venues apart from homes, and homes have a five-person limit on visitors.

© AAP 2021

Gladys Berejiklian says NSW is in the "scariest" period since the pandemic began, but has ruled out further restrictions for now.

The premier told reporters that she and Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant were of equal view on the risk facing the state.

She also confirmed that she had tested negative for the virus on Thursday after being in the same room as Agriculture Minister Adam Marshall on Tuesday night at parliament house.

Mr Marshall said he had tested positive to the virus after dining at a restaurant in Sydney's east on Monday night, at the same time as a previously reported case linked to the Bondi cluster.

Health Minister Brad Hazzard said he had tested negative after waking on Thursday to a text from NSW Health saying he had been in contact with a suspected case.

NSW Health figures show there were 18 new cases in the 24 hours to 8pm on Wednesday, 13 of which were announced earlier.

There were another six cases detected after the 8pm cut off which will be included in Friday's official tally.

This means there's a total of 11 new cases linked to the outbreak that began in Bondi last week.

Of the 11 new cases, all but one are linked to a known case or the Bondi cluster, with urgent investigations underway into how a man in his 40s caught the virus. He's the second man in as many days who has contracted the virus from an unknown source.

Mr Marshall's positive diagnosis sent shock waves through Parliament House with most staff told to stay home while a skeleton staff of MPs underwent rapid testing to allow the NSW budget to be passed.

"We've been testing ... and have been progressively through who this gentleman has come into contact with," Dr.Chant said.

Mr Marshall issued a statement saying he was "doing fine and will continue to strictly follow the advice of health authorities"

"I have been in isolation in Sydney since late Tuesday night, when I received a text message from NSW Health."

Mr Marshall has been isolating at his Sydney flat since Tuesday night and won't be able to return to his Armidale home for at least 14 days. His ministerial staff are also in isolation.

He had dined with three of his Nationals colleagues -Trevor Khan, Steph Cooke and Ben Franklin - with all three understood to have tested negative.

The four MPs were in parliament on Tuesday afternoon after attending a partyroom meeting earlier in the day.

Government Whip Adam Crouch instructed MPs to "stay put" until they receive an update.

"If you are currently in Parliament House remain in Parliament House," he said in a statement.

"If you are not in Parliament House, remain where you are."

Media and non-essential staff have been told to leave, and get tested.

Only 16 MPs are inside the NSW Parliament on Thursday - just enough to pass the 2021/22 budget handed down this week before the current session is suspended.

Opposition Leader Chris Minns has postponed his budget reply speech due on Thursday.

"All sides agree now is not the time for politics ... we need to get through what is a very difficult health situation in Sydney," he told Sydney radio 2GB.

The NSW Premier has confirmed that no lockdown is being put in place for Sydney.

"It is a very contagious variant but at the same time we are at this stage comfortable that the settings that are in place are the appropriate settings, but that is so long as everybody does the right thing. Please be extra cautious," Ms Berejiklian said.

Police have also confirmed they are carrying out checks to ensure people are doing the right thing, issuing around 150 cautions to people for not wearing masks on public transport and other places.

Police also warned that during school holidays highway patrol would be checking people are not breaking orders not to travel.

NSW Health has also confirmed fragments of the virus have been detected at sewage plants that service Sydney's northwest and southern suburbs as well as the Illawarra.

© AAP 2021