REGIONAL lockdown will continue until midnight September 10, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has confirmed as NSW cases hit four figures in Thursday's update.
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NSW Health said the Hunter had escaped fresh cases despite a Windale exposure "of great concern".
While he said that the Hunter results were pleasing and "we've done a good job there", NSW deputy premier John Barilaro said the fight was far from over.
"We are on a knife edge in regional NSW," Mr Barilaro said.
"The decision to extend the lockdown is one to protect the regions and protect communities.
"Now is the time to stay united."
Ms Berejiklian said the government would offer its schools plan on Friday, but from September 13 that local government areas of concern in Sydney would be offered an hour of recreation on top of their hour of exercise - if they were vaccinated.
"A family will be able to go out and sit in the park, as long as the adults are vaccinated," Ms Berejiklian said.
Outside those areas, five people can gather outdoors as long as all adults are vaccinated.
"That five can include children, but as long as it's adults all of them will need to be vaccinated," Ms Berejiklian said.
"We know that people coming together is what people miss the most."
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NSW recorded 1029 cases in NSW, with three deaths, including a man in his 30s, in the 24 hours to 8pm on Wednesday.
"Unfortunately all three were unvaccinated," Ms Berejiklian said.
None of those were in the Hunter, NSW Health said, with two on the Central Coast.
The Sydney local government areas comprise 80 per cent of cases, Ms Berejiklian said, and urged people in those areas to adhere to the health advice.