NSW records more virus cases, mostly in isolation

Australia's New South Wales state recorded 35 new community transmitted coronavirus cases on Monday, but the majority were in isolation during their infectious period, authorities said.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian said health authorities had anticipated that case numbers would fluctuate as the state seeks to contain the latest cluster.

Berejiklian said the next few days will be critical in determining if the two-week lockdown of Sydney and its surrounding areas will end as scheduled on Friday.

She said the lockdown had been effective in preventing infections "from doubling and tripling".

Authorities said 312 locally transmitted cases have now been reported since June 16 when the first case of the Bondi cluster appeared.

In the neighboring state of Queensland, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said four cases were recorded into Monday.

"We do not believe that the delta variant is circulating in our community which is excellent news," she said.

She said all of the cases were of the alpha variant, first detected in the UK.

.