Health authorities are working to determine the source of infection for a Shellharbour resident who tested positive to COVID-19.
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The resident was among 452 new cases reported in NSW in the 24 hours to 8pm Monday from 152,000 tests.
They are isolating at home.
Live blog: The outbreak in NSW, as it happens
It is the fourth straight day that the number of new cases across the state has topped 400 and more than 8600 people have contracted the virus since this outbreak emerged two months ago.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian warned that in the coming weeks the case numbers were expected to "bounce around, and are likely to go up substantially".
But Ms Berejiklian said the state was on track to meet the target of six million vaccine doses of the COVID-19 vaccine administered by the end of the month.
More than 5.2 million shots have been administered in NSW, with almost 52 per cent of the state's residents having received at least one dose.
Ms Berejiklian said the state was set to see 70 per cent of its residents with two doses by late October, and 80 per cent by mid November.
"Life will be much freer than what it is today once we get to 70 per cent and 80 per cent," she said.
"It doesn't mean we'll be completely free, it doesn't mean that we will let the virus be rampant in the community no matter our number of cases, but it will be freer than what it is today."
The months until the state hit those targets, Ms Berejiklian said, would be "difficult".
But she said chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant had been asked to consider what restrictions could be eased for fully vaccinated people into September and October, once six million shots had been administered.
The current Greater Sydney lockdown is scheduled to end on August 28, while regional NSW is due to leave lockdown this weekend.
The government has not announced definitively whether either will continue beyond those dates.
Deputy chief health officer Dr Jeremy McAnulty said there was a large number of people hospitalised, with 447 patients admitted.
Two of these patients are residents of the Illawarra.
Sixty-nine COVID patients are in intensive care, and 24 are receiving ventilation.
A woman in her 70s has died with the illness.
"This is a serious disease, including in young people," Dr McAnulty said.
Of the new cases, at least 74 were in the community while infectious.
The isolation status of 297 cases is under investigation.
When it came to the transmission of the virus, Dr McAnulty said the risk was highest within a person's own household, and when visiting another household.
He said the next most concerning place for transmission was the workplace.
Meanwhile, a 75-year-old man and 70-year-old woman have been fined after police conducting compliance checks at Bombo caught them travelling from Wollongong to Kiama for takeaway.
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Natalie Croxon
Reporter at the Illawarra Mercury, mostly covering social affairs. Previously of the Bendigo Advertiser, Northern Daily Leader and Quirindi Advocate. Our Watch award winner.
Reporter at the Illawarra Mercury, mostly covering social affairs. Previously of the Bendigo Advertiser, Northern Daily Leader and Quirindi Advocate. Our Watch award winner.
