Australia's New South Wales has reported 98 new community cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm on Sunday, state Premier Gladys Berejiklian said.
That compares to 105 cases and one death the previous day.
Berejiklian said over two-thirds of the new COVID-19 cases were detected around Sydney's south-western suburbs.
"I know this has impacted many families, but sometimes you don't even need to have symptoms to give the virus to your loved ones.
"You might think you are doing the right thing by visiting a relative or going into another household - please don't."
Berejiklian said of the 98 new cases, 20 were infectious while in the community. That number needed to drop further before any lockdown restrictions could be lifted, she said.
"That 20 number is the number we are really keen to nudge," she told reporters. "We need to get ahead of that number in order to reduce the cases in the community and the closer we get that number to zero, the sooner we can end the lockdown."
Berejiklian said she's convinced case numbers will go down as harsher lockdown restrictions announced at the weekend take effect in the coming days.
Victoria lockdown announcement imminent
Neighbouring Victoria reported 13 new community cases of COVID-19 on Monday, the state's health department said.
The state entered its fifth lockdown on Thursday to contain a community outbreak, which was originally due to end at midnight on Tuesday. The state's health department said 54,839 people were tested for COVID-19 in the 24 hours to midnight on Sunday.
As of Monday, 1.39 million COVID-19 vaccine doses had been administered in Victoria.
Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews is holding a press conference at 1:30pm (NZ time) with an update on the state's lockdown.
An update on quarantine-free travel, currently suspended with Victoria and NSW, is also expected from New Zealand authorities later on Monday.
