Australia logged a record 1,323 local COVID-19 cases on Sunday as debate rages on whether the country should start living with the virus in the community.

Australia's most populous state New South Wales (NSW), the epicenter of the nation's Delta-fueled outbreak, reported 1,218 cases as authorities there are set to slightly ease restrictions after nine weeks in lockdown, which is scheduled to last until the end of September.

NSW state Premier Gladys Berejiklian vowed to reopen the state once 70% of those 16 and older get vaccinated.

While in Victoria, the country's second most populous state, which is in its sixth lockdown since the start of the pandemic, there were 92 new infections on Sunday, the highest in nearly a year.

Victoria state Premier Daniel Andrews said his state's lockdown, due to end on Thursday, will be extended, but would not say for how long.

The Australian Capital Territory, home to the national capital Canberra, had 13 new cases.

Federal, state and territory governments in July signed off on a roadmap out of the pandemic that will start when 70 percent of the adult population is fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

However, some state premiers have since cast doubts over the plan amid recent outbreaks and lockdowns in the nation's major cities, Canberra, Sydney and Melbourne.

Several states in Australia have imposed various combinations of state border closures, lockdowns and strict social distancing measures to combat COVID-19.

But Prime Minister Scott Morrison has been urging states to reopen their borders once a vaccination target of 70% of those 16 and older is reached.

Australia's Treasurer Josh Frydenberg also warned that the country's economy will suffer if they do not stick to the national plan to reopen from coronavirus lockdowns.

(With input from Xinhua and Reuters)