New South Wales (NSW) has recorded its worst day yet in the current outbreak, with 466 new cases and four deaths reported on Saturday.
Of those, the source remains unknown for 345. Just 121 are linked to a known cluster - 101 household contacts and 20 close contacts.
Sixty-eight cases are known to have been infectious in the community, and the isolation status of another 303 remains under investigation.
The latest figures go up to 8pm on Friday.
The four deaths were a man in his 70s from southwestern Sydney, a man in his 80s also from southwestern Sydney, a woman in her 40s from northern Sydney and a woman in her 70s from the southwest. Forty-three people have now died in the current outbreak, which began almost two months ago.
Two of the deaths were in people who weren't vaccinated. One was vaccinated, but had pre-existing conditions. The vaccination status of the fourth is unknown at present.
"We read out the statistics, but behind each statistic is a human being with loved ones they've left behind," said Premier Gladys Berejiklian. "Our heart goes out to all of them."
Only one new overseas case was picked up.
To date, the state has recorded 12,903 cases of COVID-19, 7337 in the current outbreak. There are 378 people in hospital, 64 in ICU and 29 on ventilators.
Berejiklian said new restrictions would stop people from Greater Sydney heading into regional NSW, with $5000 spot fines for anyone who breaks the rules. Leaving the house for 'recreation' is also now banned, except for genuine exercise, ABC reported.
Earlier on Saturday, the state of Victoria reported 21 new local cases, 10 of them infectious while in the community.
