A worrying increase of cases in Narromine led to the town’s demise, as it was plunged back into stay-at-home orders last night, which will remain until October 11. 

Beyond the Western Plains, state Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced her resignation today, following an investigation being revealed by the state's corruption watchdog.

The announcement comes less than a fortnight before the supposed 'freedom day' of NSW following statewide lockdown that she led the state through.

The investigation follows concerns of a conflict of interest between Ms Berejiklian's private life and public duties after a secret relationship with former MP Daryl Maguire was revealed.

"I've had to make an extremely difficult decision overnight, one I feel obliged to do because of the love and respect I have are the people of New South Wales and the high regard with which I have the office of Premier," Ms Berejiklian said today in the press conference announcing her resignation.

Up to 8pm last night there were 48 new cases across the Western NSW Local Health District (WNSWLHD), bringing the total cases in the district during this outbreak to 1,330. 

21 cases were located in Wellington, 9 in Narromine, 5 in Cowra, 4 in Bourke, 4 in Dubbo, 3 in Gulgong and 2 in Oberon. 

In Bourke, a sixth case has been removed from local case numbers, after being determined a false positive.

While 29 of the positive cases are linked to known cases, 19 remain under investigation.

WNSWLHD Chief Executive Scott McLachlan said the sharp increase in case numbers over the past two days are bringing concern to the region as the October long weekend approaches. 

“This is going to be a really crucial time for the areas that are out of stay-at-home orders when there will be time to reconnect with family and friends,” Mr McLachlan said.

“Please be smart about this…look for restrictions and make sure you know what is and isn’t possible,” he added. 

As Narromine’s new lockdown status took down surrounding towns in the LGA such as Trangie with them, officials are looking into alternatives to shutting down entire LGAs, given that Trangie is yet to see a positive case.

“We know with a big region like ours and multiple communities in local government areas that there does need to be some consideration in the future weeks and months of how we’re going to respond when we do see outbreaks in communities,” said Mr McLachlan. 

Until then, the entire LGA will remain in lockdown, with concerns that case numbers will rise in the community in the coming days after five of the positive cases were active in the community. 

The WNSWLHD is tracking well towards the 70 per cent double dose vaccination milestone by October 11 with the rest of the state, with some LGAs having already surpassed the milestone. Just yesterday, 1,700 vaccines were administered in the health district. 

Mr McLachlan says that for Western NSW to survive the increased in freedoms across the state, the region should be looking towards above 90 per cent of the local population fully vaccinated. 

Covid-19 testing numbers remains a concern for officials as Mr McLachlan says that numbers should be double what we are seeing given the spike in cases, with 2,400 tests given yesterday. 

Despite strong vaccination numbers, Mr McLachlan advised that the immunity effects of the vaccine won’t kick in until two weeks after first and second doses, leaving opportunity for exposure to the virus. 

Vaccination clinics will continue throughout the long weekend, and information to visit them can be found here, along with testing locations and exposure sites in the region.