Blayney will not be plunged back into lockdown after it was confirmed its new case of COVID-19 wasn't infectious in the community.
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Blayney is one of six locations across the Western NSW Local Health District to pick up a new case of community transmission in the 24 hours to 8pm on Thursday.
Crucially though, it is the only LGA not currently governed by stay-at-home orders.
There were 15 new cases across the Western NSW Local Health District, with three deaths in Dubbo and cases in Orange (one), Bathurst (one), Bourke (one), Narromine (one) and Dubbo (10). Three of the Dubbo LGA cases are located in Wellington.
All of those areas are currently in lockdown.
On Thursday, deputy premier John Barilaro lifted lockdown orders on 12 LGAs across regional NSW, one of those being Blayney.
Cabonne, Forbes and Parkes also had stay-at-home orders removed.
It's a reminder of how sinister and deadly this virus is.
- NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian
In the Western NSW LHD press conference, Member for Dubbo Dugald Saunders confirmed the new case in Blayney won't impact the LGA's lockdown status heading into the weekend.
Western NSW LHD chief Scott McLachlan revealled the Blayney case picked up the virus while at a medical facility in Sydney while the new Orange case is a household contact.
In total, 12 more people died with the virus across NSW in the 24 hours to 8pm on Thursday, NSW Health said, with 1284 COVID cases statewide in the same period.
"Every day the statistics are given out in detail, but behind every death there is a family," NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said.
"It's a reminder of how sinister and deadly this virus is."Ms Berejiklian said.
The deaths include two of these people were in their 20s, three people were in their 50s, one person was in their 60s, two people were in their 70s, three people were in their 80s, and one person was in their 90s.
- Seven of the 12 were not vaccinated, and three more had received just one dose.
- A woman in her 20s from western Sydney died at Nepean Hospital.
- A woman in her 20s, a resident of the Wyong Life Without Barriers group home, died at Gosford Hospital
- Three people who died were residents of aged care facilities in Dubbo.
- A woman in her 80s died at the Holy Spirit aged care facility.
- A woman in her 90s, who was fully vaccinated, and a man in his 80s, who was partially vaccinated, died at St Mary's Villa aged care facility in Dubbo
- Two people from western Sydney - a man in his 50s and a woman in her 80s - died at their homes and their COVID-19 infections were diagnosed following their deaths. Neither person was vaccinated.
The premier said there were opportunities to relieve some restrictions, but the state's population needed to "stay the course".
One thing she said the state expected to happen at 80 per cent fully vaccinated was the international border opening for both returns and departures.
A home quarantine trial will begin in the next few weeks, potentially marking an expiry date for the hotel quarantine system that has pervaded much of the pandemic.
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Matt Carr
Matt began his Newcastle Herald career as a cadet in 2009. He is a Walkley nominated reporter who has covered councils, police and general news rounds across the Upper Hunter, Port Stephens, Maitland, Lake Macquarie, Cessnock and Newcastle. Now his focus is on digital storytelling and breaking news.
Matt began his Newcastle Herald career as a cadet in 2009. He is a Walkley nominated reporter who has covered councils, police and general news rounds across the Upper Hunter, Port Stephens, Maitland, Lake Macquarie, Cessnock and Newcastle. Now his focus is on digital storytelling and breaking news.
Nick McGrath
Editor, Central Western Daily
Editor, Central Western Daily
