The federal government is preparing to provide further financial support for NSW as its coronavirus outbreak worsens, claiming its first death.
Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly has also warned that a resident of a Sydney aged care facility is seriously unwell in hospital.
Six people have now been infected in the SummitCare facility in Baulkham Hills and transferred to the Westmead Hospital.
"Five of those were fully vaccinated and unfortunately the sixth one was not and I can report she is quite unwell at the moment, seriously unwell in hospital," Professor Kelly told reporters in Canberra on Sunday.
The Commonwealth government is expected to announce further assistance for NSW businesses, as the state government also prepares to stump up further support, while also providing aid for individuals and households.
But Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has repeatedly said the government won't be going back to a JobKeeper wage subsidy regime.
Treasury is understood to have put forward a number of options Prime Minister Scott Morrison is working through, although whatever is decided will be a national policy rather than being state specific.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced the death of a woman in her 90s alongside 77 new cases in the 24 hours to 8 pm on Saturday.
The Greater Sydney lockdown, that has already been extended to a third week, is looking increasingly unlikely to end anytime soon.
"Given where we're at and given the lockdown was supposed to be lifted on Friday, everybody can tell it's highly unlikely at this stage, given where the numbers are," Ms Berejiklian told reporters on Sunday.
She warned new cases could top 100 when she reports back on Monday
AMP Capital chief economist Shane Oliver has given a rough estimate of the cost of the Sydney lockdown as around $1 billion a week.
"However, if as appears increasingly likely the Sydney lockdown is extended much beyond the current three weeks, it will progressively cause more damage," Dr Oliver says.
"For example, another 4 weeks will see the economic cost blow out to $7 billion and take longer to recover from."
NSW treasurer Dominic Perrottet admits a further lockdown extension is going to be terribly challengingfor businesses right across the state, and indicated further financial assistance would be available inthe next few days.
"We have always said from the outset of this pandemic we will put the economy before the budget," he told Sky News' Sunday Agenda program.
