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New South Wales Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW John Barilaro clarified why regional and rural lockdowns were extended at the midday press conference for regional journalists.

Mr Barilaro said it was clear after talking to Dr Kerry Chant, the health team and to the CEOs of local health districts that regional and rural NSW would be locked down for an additional two weeks.

"The reality is that it's a knife-edge," he said.

"We looked at regions that we could cut out, and then we looked at inter-connectivity with other local government areas. The decision was easier to lock down the whole region in a proactive manner to protect communities.

"It does feel like a tinder box, any spark could explode at any time."

Mr Barilaro said that the two-week extension gave the government more time and data.

"We will be looking at a regional approach over the next two weeks. We will make those decisions on health advice," he said.

"I've always said that health would have the final say."

A decision regarding students heading back to school will be announced on Friday, August 27, 2021.

"If we do get out of lockdown in two weeks, we can go back to school pre-Sydney lockdown," he said.

While sewage surveillance has been an important tool to the government, Mr Barilaro has said people shouldn't panic when a positive sample is returned.

"It does mean that people must be vigilant," he said.

"Even if you have a slight sniffle, please get tested. We will increase the ability to get tested and we need to get on top of it.

"Be alert, not alarmed.

"Fingers crossed it's not a case and it's someone passing through."

Sewage surveillance has picked up Covid-19 fragments in Merimbula on the far South Coast, Queanbeyan and Bowral.

Mr Barilaro previously flagged the detection of Covid-19 in Merimbula's sewage as "a real concern."

Southern NSW Local Health District said Covid-19 fragments found in Queanbeyan's sewage surveillance system indicated there could be signal undetected cases in the community.

Covid-19 fragments were also detected in Bowral's sewage treatment plant on August 24, however, no other information is known.

Residents are urged to get tested at the onset of the slightest symptoms.

In some positive news for Bega, Queanbeyan and Goulburn, a detailed timeline for a vaccine hub is set to be released on Friday.

"Southern Area Health has given me their walk-in clinic dates and that will be announced tomorrow," he said,

"We are ramping up the resources and availability in a no booking approach in places such as Goulburn, Queanbeyan and Bega.

"There are resources, there is manpower and vaccines available.

"Yes there is a short supply of Pfizer but that's across the nation. That will ease up in September and ease up even more in October but in the meantime, AstraZeneca will be available and we will be able to ramp right up on that."

With NSW in a statewide lockdown and regional travel restrictions in place, many families have expressed concern over child custody arrangements.

Mr Barilaro clarified those child custody arrangements were exempt from the stay at home lockdown orders.

"We've always had in place for families that are separated in multiple residences that kids and parents can move about," he said.

There are currently five reasonable excuses to leave your home according to the advice of NSW Health.

They include: