Australia: NSW state reports record daily virus cases

The premier Australia's most populous state on Friday reported a daily record 390 new locally acquired COVID-19 cases and warned that the high infection rate would continue for days.

New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian said two people died overnight, bringing the state's death toll from an outbreak of the delta variant first detected in Sydney in mid-June to 38.

The previous highest infection tally was 356 reported on Tuesday.

Berejiklian said at least 60 of the new cases had been infectious in the community before they were isolated.

"I anticipate, given the large number of cases we've had in the last few days, that unfortunately this trend will continue for at least the next few days," Berejiklian said.

Sydney has been in lockdown since June 26 and the government had hoped that the spread would be halted by August 28.

The state government hopes that by accelerating the vaccination rollout, pandemic restrictions can be eased in parts of Australia's largest city despite the highly contagious delta variant of the virus continuing to spread.

Australia has one of the lowest COVID-19 vaccination rates among wealthy countries.

Only 24% of the population aged over 16 had been fully vaccinated by Thursday.