The NSW South East has recorded its highest daily number of COVID-19 cases, as statewide numbers almost doubled again.
Forty-six new cases have been recorded in the South East, with 27 of those in the Snowy Monaro region.
The Southern New South Wales Local Health District (LHD) is no longer providing a breakdown of where these cases are located exactly, due to the surge in infections.
Two people from the LHD are in hospital being treated for the virus.
Twelve of the new cases are in the Bega Valley Shire and seven are in Eurobodalla.
The regional case spike comes as NSW records its highest daily figure, too, with 21,151 COVID-19 cases.
Today's tally in the South East is more than four times the number of cases recorded yesterday.
There were 11 new cases recorded yesterday and the local health district provided a breakdown of locations for these infections.
In Snowy Monaro, three cases were in Cooma, one was in Jindabyne and another in Bombala.
In the Bega Valley, there was one case each in Merimbula, Eden, Berrambool and Tathra.
There was also one each in Catalina and Batemans Bay in the Eurobodalla.
Testing changes
The spike in case numbers comes amid a lower testing clinic capacity across the South East during the holidays.
Southern NSW LHD said testing clinics would close on the coming public holidays.
Bega's testing clinic at the South East Regional Hospital is also closed today and will reopen at the Bega Racecourse on Sunday.
The reduced capacity comes amid reports of long wait times for a PCR test and a short supply of rapid antigen tests across the country.
Pathology websites across NSW are also warning people of the long wait times amid the surge.
"Unprecedented demand has been placed on our Sydney Metropolitan and Regional COVID-19 testing centres as well as our laboratories," the Histopath website said.
"Expect longer wait times and temporary suspension of services at our clinics due to extreme weather conditions and local traffic congestion."
