NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has hinted lockdown restrictions could be relaxed ahead of the milestone 70 per cent vaccination mark. 

The three key targets for easing the NSW lockdown laws so far have been 6 million jabs then 70 per cent and finally 80 per cent of the adult population double-jabbed.

NSW surpassed 6million inoculations and the 65 per cent first dose mark this week but the 70 per cent double-dose target is unlikely to be reached before October.

However at the Sunday morning Covid briefing, the premier suggested some areas which are the least affected by the current outbreak could see relief even sooner.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian (pictured) has hinted lockdown restrictions could be relaxed ahead of the milestone 70 per cent vaccination mark

'If local government areas are demonstrating a decline in numbers, there will be opportunities for us to act in that regard as well,' said Ms Berejiklian.

The glimmer of hope came despite the state suffering yet another record-breaking day with 1,218 new Covid cases and six deaths reported overnight.

However the state also had its highest-ever week of jabs, with a whopping 834,000 people rolling up their sleeves.

Sixty-five per cent of the population have now had one dose, and 35 per cent have had two.

Ms Berejiklian is confident that the growing widespread rollout of the vaccination will have a huge impact in the fight against Covid.

The three key targets for easing the NSW lockdown laws so far have been 6 million jabs then 70 per cent and finally 80 per cent of the adult population double-jabbed. (Pictured, a group of men enjoying a pre-lockdown drink at North Bondi in June)

Ms Berejiklian insisted the state would relax at least some of the current public health orders once the state hit 70 per cent double-dose vaccinations. 

But she conceded the yardstick going forward for making decisions on opening up again will now depend on hospitalisation and ICU numbers.

'What we can do at 70 per cent double dose will depend on the case numbers and how many people are in ICU,' she said.

'I'm incredibly alarmed by anybody that needs hospital care, or is an intensive care, and that is the figure that we need to look at. 

'While we'll have more freedom than what we do today, the extent of the freedoms the extent of what we can do, will depend on a whole range of factors.

Ms Berejiklian insisted the state would relax at least some of the current public health orders once the state hit 70 per cent double-dose vaccinations. (Pictured, a queue of people awaiting a vaccination at the NSW Health vaccination clinic at Sydney's Olympic Park on Saturday)

'But that is why I don't want to see anybody in ICU. We don't want anyone to have to go through that. 

'COVID is a horrible disease, especially when you get it in a serious way. It is a horrible existence. And we don't want anybody to have to go through that.

'The quicker we can get those vaccination rates up, the lower the number of people who will end up in ICU.'

But Ms Berejiklian stressed that the days of lockdown were numbered once vaccination rates hit those landmark figures.

'Getting to those vaccination milestones means you don't have lockdowns in the future,' she said. 'It means you manage the disease.

'But what it might mean is that from time to time you ask people to do things a bit differently whether it's density in a venue or whether it's the amount of people you have at a major sporting event.'

NSW surpassed 6million inoculations and 65 per cent first dose mark this week but the 70 per cent double-dose target is unlikely to be reached before October. (Pictured, a man being vaccinated at Belmore in Sydney on Saturday)

She said the state would use the various specific levers it has available to try to control the spread of the disease, but ruled out statewide lockdowns in future. 

'Seventy per cent  double-dose gives us lots of extra freedoms for those that are vaccinated,' she added. 

'But it does still mean we use QR codes, it does still mean we have good social distancing, that we follow the health guidelines, but it means a much freer existence than what we have now.'

The UK is currently seeing peak numbers of daily Covid cases in excess of 30,000, but death rates are tiny compared to pre-vaccination death rates.

Similar case numbers in January saw more than 1200 deaths every day, but in the UK now, the seven-day average death rate is now just 100.  

The premier predicted that, going forward, those who will be badly affected by Covid will be almost exclusively those who have not been vaccinated. (Pictured, a vaccination jab being given in Bankstown)

The increased spread of the Covid in the UK means 94.2 per cent of the adult population in England have Covid antibodies, either through vaccination or from having had the disease. 

The official total UK population vaccination rate is 63.6 per cent.

Ms Berejiklian also warned of the two-three week delay in vaccinations taking effect before hospitalisation numbers start to drop, and also the delay between contracting the disease before it kills its victims.

And she flagged a possible large rise in case numbers and hospitalisations in the days ahead, but insisted the infrastructure was in place to deal with any coming crisis.

'Remember, there is always a lag, so it takes a few weeks before people get the disease and then succumb to it in a serious way and end up in ICU,' she said. 

Premier Gladys Berejiklian (pictured) said the yardstick going forward for making decision on opening up again will now depend on hospitalisation and ICU numbers

'I anticipate those numbers will go up from what they are now, but the system will cope. We have been planning for this. 

'No doubt the health system is stretched, no doubt there will be days when people feel overwhelmed, especially our health staff, who are doing an incredible job. 

'But this is what we have been working towards, to make sure that our system can cope.'

The premier predicted that, going forward, those who will be badly affected by Covid will be almost exclusively those who have not been vaccinated. 

'It really is a pandemic, an epidemic, of the unvaccinated,' she said. 'No doubt about it, if you look around the world and even around Australia.

'What we're seeing, not just in Australia but around the world, is the vaccines providing enormous protection for people.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian flagged a possible large rise in case numbers and hospitalisations in the days ahead, but insisted the infrastructure was in place to deal with any coming crisis. (Pictured, a health worker speaks to the queueing crowd at the vaccination hub at Sydney Olympic Park)

'Out of all the people in intensive care, there's only one person who's fully vaccinated.

'Yes, the case numbers are always concerning when they're going up, we'd love to see them coming down, but that is not the most relevant number for us.

'What is the most relevant number for NSW is how many people are vaccinated, and how many people are heading out of hospital and out of intensive care and that is what is really important for us.

'The message is, "get vaccinated, protect yourself and the community, hope is just around the corner. October will be here before we know it."

'But obviously, before then, if local government areas are demonstrating a decline in numbers, there will be opportunities for us to act in that regard as well.'

Premier Gladys Berejiklian (pictured) predicted that, going forward, those who will be badly affected by Covid will be almost exclusively those who have not been vaccinated

On Saturday it was revealed that plans are being considered by the NSW government to ban patrons from entering pubs and restaurants unless they've had the jab.

There is also a possibility all hospitality staff and patrons will need prove they have received two doses of a Covid-19 vaccine before entering bars and restaurants.

Six people died in the 24 hours to 8pm on Saturday, including three people in their 80s and three people in their 70s.

Four were unvaccinated and two only had one dose.

There are currently 126 people in ICU - 113 of whom are not vaccinated, 12 who have had one dose and one who has received both doses.