NSW deputy premier John Barilaro backs lockdown to be lifted on August 28

A seven-day extension to the stay-at-home orders for regional NSW was announced on Thursday morning following crisis cabinet talks on Wednesday.

Mr Barilaro said the growing number of cases in regional areas forced the NSW Government to extend the lockdown, which was originally meant to end at 12.01am on Sunday.

"With what we've seen over the past few days, we have made the announcement this morning (Thursday) that the lockdown for regional-rural NSW will continue for a further seven days, taking it to August 28, in line with when a decision around Sydney will be made," he said.

"... and the reasoning behind that is based on, of course, the numbers were reported today (Thursday), and, of course, the continuation of those numbers."

As of 8pm Wednesday, there were 167 cases in the Western NSW Local Health District (WNSWLHD), with 25 new cases identified in the previous 24 hours.

One of those positive cases was initially identified in the Bathurst LGA - Mr Barilaro first mentioned the case at the 11am state media briefing on Thurssday - and was believed to be an inmate at Bathurst Correctional Centre, however it was later deemed to be a Dubbo case.

COVID-positive inmates have been linked to the Bathurst jail earlier in this outbreak.

Mr Barilaro said cases at correctional centres anywhere in the region wouldn't be a consideration for government officials looking at lifting lockdowns.

Mr Barilaro added the NSW Government plans to release a roadmap next week that shows that path out of lockdown for the entire state.

If communities can satisfy the criteria for lifting lockdowns, they will be able to be released and normal life, with the restrictions we had in place prior to this lockdown, will resume.

"What we'll flag next week is what is the roadmap for Sydney to get out, what does September, what does October, what does November look like. The principles of that roadmap apply to any part of the state," Mr Barilaro said.

"Most of regional and rural NSW next Saturday I believe will come back to the freedoms we had previously to the lockdown."

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