WITH schools partially back and restrictions easing again on Friday the next 10 days are critical, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian says.
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NSW might have had its first day with no new coronavirus cases on Monday, but on Tuesday six people recorded a positive reading to the virus, while an 81-year-old woman who had been a passenger on board the Ruby Princess died.
This was the 22nd death linked to the ship and it brings the NSW death toll to 47. Nationwide 98 people have died from the virus.
Ms Berejiklian said the number of extra COVID-19 cases that may occur in the future will depend on the level of activity by residents amid the easing of restrictions.
"Schools have gone partially back this week and next week and that'll be imputed into the modelling, we also know that from Friday there will be an impact," she said.
"The next 10 days for us are quite critical in looking at what the data is telling us about activity.
"Even when we announced the restrictions, before they actually came into effect, it does give people more confidence to more around."
From this Friday, eased restrictions mean five visitors will be able to visit another household; cafe and restaurants will be able to have 10 seated patrons; and outdoor gatherings of up to 10 people are allowed.
Ms Berejiklian said once you increase the number of people who can get together and the things they can do, it will lead to an increase in COVID-19 cases.
"We've had a seismic shift in the message we're giving because prior to now we said you can't leave home unless it's under one of the four categories and now we've said it's OK to leave home for recreation and that's a big change," she said.
"It gives everybody more freedom, but it also brings more risk in terms of the number of cases, but we have to keep moving forward.
"We have to accept that a manageable number of cases will allow us to have people keep their jobs, we don't want to see more people go into distress because they can't keep their job."