Sydney is suffering through its biggest Covid outbreak of the entire pandemic with more cases in a month than the entire first wave.
The outbreak which began on June 16 has infected 1,242 people so far, including 105 on Sunday, compared to 1,233 in the first wave from February to May 2020.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has repeatedly warned the Delta variant of the virus posed the greatest threat the state has faced thus far.
On Sunday, she again warned 'this strain is unlike anything we've ever seen' just 24 hours after admitting she 'can't remember a time when our state has been challenged to such an extent'.
As of Sunday, she is already frustratingly correct.
NSW spent six weeks in lockdown from mid-March 2020 along with the rest of the nation as the federal government drew up a plan to stymie the virus nation wide.
A graph of all the new cases over the seven eight days and the updated daily averages illustrates that infections are still on the rise
There were 1,233 cases in Sydney's first Covid outbreak between March and May, including the passengers from the Ruby Princess cruise ship. Pictured: A woman wearing a mask during Sydney's first Covid outbreak
The state faced several Covid crises - from the Ruby Princess outbreak to cases spreading from the Crossroads Hotel in Casula and most recently a cluster in the Northern Beaches which forced all residents north of the Spit Bridge into lockdown.
In total, NSW has recorded 6,833 Covid cases across the entire 18 months the virus has been a threat, including those acquired overseas.
But 1,242 of those cases were recorded in just four short weeks since the current cluster was first reported on June 16.
In contrast, there were 1,233 cases in Sydney's first Covid outbreak between February and May, including the passengers from the Ruby Princess cruise ship.
The first wave ended on May 25 when NSW's run of zero transmission days began, and ended on June 5 when a truck driver started an outbreak visiting the Crossroads Hotel in Casula on a run from virus-plagued Melbourne.
Between June and November 2020, 625 NSW residents caught the virus locally as that outbreak bubbled away but was contained without harsh restrictions.
While the virus initially spread from Bondi and Sydney's east, the southwest is now considered the epicenter of the virus. Pictured: People preparing for a sunrise swim in Manly on Sunday
Most concerning for authorities is the difficulty they're having in dragging the curve down as they beg Sydneysiders to comply with regulations
During the Northern Beaches cluster of late 2020 to early 2021, 151 cases were officially linked to the initial source of infection, but over that period of time, 226 people across the state were infected.
Those numbers are well below the 1,242 already identified in the last four weeks - and the outbreak is still on the rise.
The virus initially spread from Bondi and Sydney's east, but the southwest is now considered the epicentre of the virus.
Of the 105 cases reported on Sunday, 79 were diagnosed in the local government areas of Fairfield, Liverpool or Canterbury.
Most concerning for authorities is the difficulty they're having in dragging the curve down.
A graph of all the new cases over the past eight days and the updated daily averages illustrates that infections are still gradually increasing - albeit slower than two weeks ago.
The number of new daily cases appeared to peak on July 12 at 112 when infections hovered between 65 and 97 in the four days to follow.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian has repeatedly warned the Delta variant of the virus poses the greatest threat we've faced thus far
Sydneysiders are allowed out of their homes to exercise with one other person
But hopes were dashed on Saturday when the state recorded 111