Fifty-one people living in the Illawarra and Shoalhaven are among 608 new locally acquired COVID-19 cases in NSW.
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Wollongong residents account for 34 of the new infections that emerged in the 24 hours to Monday night, of which 23 are yet to be linked to known cases.
There are 11 new cases in Shelharbour - six of which are still under investigation - and six in Shoalhaven, with four unlinked.
They bring the total number of COVID infections detected in the local health district during this year's outbreak to 1792.
There are 521 active cases in Wollongong and 135 in Shellharbour, while the number in Kiama has fallen to just five.
NSW has seen more than 60,000 cases since mid-June.
"We're seeing a decline in numbers in recent days, but we've also seen a slight decline in testing, so we'd really encourage people to come forward for testing," NSW Health's Dr Jeremy McAnulty said.
"As we get closer to more people being vaccinated in the community, it's important we all maintain our vigilance for symptoms and come forward for testing, so we don't miss cases."
NSW Health reported that another six men and one woman with COVID, aged from their 50s to their 80s, died.
Five were unvaccinated and two had received one dose. There have now been 385 COVID deaths during this outbreak.
NSW hospitals are treating 978 COVID patients, 38 of whom are in Wollongong Hospital.
Patients in need of ventilation now number 94, with 190 people in total receiving intensive care.
The proportion of NSW residents aged 16 and over who have had both doses of the COVID vaccine has hit 67.5 per cent, with 88.5 per cent having had at least one dose.
Restrictions are set to begin easing from next Monday, October 11 for fully vaccinated people with the expectation the state will hit the 70 per cent fully vaccinated mark this week.
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