But non-urgent surgery at NSW public hospitals will remain postponed.

"This is to ensure we retain adequate system capacity, as well as patient, staff and public safety, for the delivery of healthcare services during the COVID-19 response," NSW Health said in a statement.

"Emergency surgery and urgent elective surgery will continue to be performed in public hospitals during this challenging period."

There are currently 1055 COVID-19 patients in hospital in NSW, with 210 in intensive care units and 104 on ventilators.

NSW reported 864 new locally acquired cases on another one of its most deadly days.

Fifteen deaths were also reported in the 24 hours to 8pm on Thursday, taking the death toll for the current NSW outbreak to 352.

Some 87.2 per cent of people aged 16 years and over have now received their first dose of vaccine, while 64 per cent of the state are fully inoculated, NSW Health's Jeremy McAnulty said.

"This is fantastic news that vaccination rates are going up every day, so thanks to everyone for coming forward to protect yourself and families and others in the community."

NSW Health on Friday also said it had detected virus fragments in sewage at Hastings Point and Ballina in the Northern Rivers region, Quirindi in the Northwest Slopes, and in Armidale and Tamworth.

People in those areas were encouraged to seek COVID-19 testing with even minor respiratory symptoms.

The suburb of Casino was placed into lockdown from midnight last night until October 11 when the rest of the state will begin reopening gradually.

The stay-at-home order applies to anyone who has been in Casino since September 24.

Australian Associated Press