GOOD NEWS: For the first time in 76 days, NSW recorded no locally acquired cases.

For the first time since July 8, NSW has recorded no cases of community transmission. 

The only two cases recorded came from returning travellers in hotel quarantine. 

It’s now been two weeks since the state recorded a case with an unknown source of infection. 

There are two key takeaways from the low numbers.

1 - State borders are already starting to reopen

Both Queensland and South Australia have begun reopening their borders with NSW following weeks of low COVID-19 case numbers. 

Queensland: Residents of five local government areas in northern NSW will be able to apply for a border pass to get into Queensland. The 41 NSW postcodes cover Byron Bay, Ballina, Lismore, Richmond Valley and Glen Innes. 

South Australia: From Thursday, NSW residents will be able to enter South Australia without quarantining for two weeks.

2 - Testing numbers need to lift, says Premier

The testing figures announced today - 7,616 tests in the past 24 hours - were the lowest in more than three months. 

“We will only continue to beat this virus if we’re able to increase the rates of testing,” NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said. 

The state aims for at least 20,000 tests per day. People in Sydney’s south-west are being particularly encouraged to get tested if symptoms appear.