And before the highly contagious delta coronavirus variant took hold. First it was in Sydney late in June, now it's all over the place, New Zealand included.

The latest community outbreak in Auckland is expected to swell to triple figures and authorities are officially worried as it was confirmed the latest cases are linked to NSW.

An American news anchor who mocked Australia's 'insane' restrictions last week must be laughing out loud at the thousands of police officers and Australian Defence Force members now on there ground in virus-stricken NSW.

But with unvaccinated people from Sydney hotspots deciding to use public transport to head to regional NSW and start a charity walk, some may say it's not a moment too soon.

NSW's new cases spiked from 452, past the 500s, to 633 overnight and, worryingly, almost 450 cases remain "under investigation".

With discussion about more anti-lockdown marches circulating on social media, authorities have upped their game. About 8000 Australian Defence Force members have joined forces with 18,000 police officers for a three-week crackdown on non-compliance of public health orders.

"We're temporarily living with restrictions that we all want to see lifted, but the mass gathering of a group of idiots could mean that day moves further into the future," said plain-talking NSW Police Minister David Elliot.

But according to one epidemiologist, even with a vaccination rate of 80 per cent, that might not be for some time to come.

Professor Angela Webster told New Scientist, people in Sydney probably won't be able to socialise in large groups or go to restaurants until next year.

"But there is hope," she says. "Everyone here is very doom and gloom, but we are averting thousands of deaths with this lockdown and we know the vaccine will end it, it's just going to take a while to get there."

More immediately, regional NSW will learn if its lockdown will be extended at tomorrow's 11am statewide COVID update. In betting parlance, an extension is the short-priced favourite.

On the good news front (yes, there is some) the Top End's three-day lockdown is likely to end on time; more grants have been made available to Victoria's arts community; travel exemptions are being made for fiances holding visas; and - for something completely different - a 90-year-old aerobics queen is bringing back leg-warmers (though you can only read that if you subscribe to an ACM masthead - soz.)

Did you know you can receive this daily digest by email? Sign up here

THE NEWS YOU NEED TO KNOW: