New South Wales reports 372 new local cases of COVID-19 and one virus-related death

New South Wales has reported nearly 100 new local cases of COVID-19 more than the day earlier – 10 days after lockdown restrictions lifted in the state.

There were 372 new local cases of COVID-19 reported on Thursday, compared to 283 reported on Wednesday.

One virus-related death was reported in the 24 hours to 8pm on Wednesday.

There are 523 COVID patients requiring treatment in hospital, including 124 in ICU.

92.5 per cent of the over-16 population has received a first dose of vaccine, while 82.3 per cent are fully vaccinated.

It comes as New South Wales launches a pilot facility to develop mRNA and RNA drugs and vaccines, the same model the Pfizer and Moderna COVID vaccines use, to combat disease.

Premier Dominic Perrottet announced the $96 million facility on Thursday.

“The COVID pandemic has demonstrated to the world that it is critically important that we have the capability to develop vaccines quickly and for our country to have sovereign capability,” he said.

“The advent of mRNA vaccines and the crucial role they’ve played in getting NSW back on the road to a pandemic recovery is just the beginning of what this incredible emerging medical technology can do.”

The pilot facility will commence subject to the approval of a final business case.

Leader of the NSW Bioscience Alliance, UNSW Sydney Professor Pall Thordarson said vaccines were the “tip of the iceberg” when it came to RNA technologies.

Thursday marks ten days since Sydney’s lockdown was lifted.