Gunnedah in north-west NSW has recorded six new COVID-19 cases, as the area returns to stay-at-home orders.
New South Wales overall recorded 608 new locally acquired cases of the virus to 8:00pm Monday.
Six were from the Gunnedah Local Government Area (LGA): four in Gunnedah, one in Carroll, and one in Kelvin.
There is also one new case in the Liverpool Plains Shire at Werris Creek.
The LGA went into stay-at-home orders at midnight, which will last seven days until Monday, October 11.
Everyone in this area must stay at home unless it is for an essential reason, which includes shopping for food, medical care, getting vaccinated, compassionate needs, work or tertiary education if it cannot be done at home.
The orders also apply to anyone who has been in the Gunnedah Shire since September 27, including any holiday-makers who visited the popular Lake Keepit over the Labour Day long weekend.
Gunnedah LGA exposure sites are currently listed as:
- The Gunnedah Hotel, Tuesday, September 28 from 8:40pm–8:45pm
- Cellarbrations, Connadilly Street, Gunnedah, Tuesday, September 28 from 12:20pm–12:25pm and 2:40pm—2:45pm
Hunter New England Health public health physician David Durrheim said the outbreak had been linked to a single case inside an agricultural company.
"In a way, it's a very sad situation after being free of cases for so long. We expect more cases," Dr Durrheim said.
Dr Durrheim said the COVID-19 patients in Gunnedah had been symptomatic in the workplace and community, which made the virus more susceptible to spread.
"We've definitely had transmission at the workplace and with one family," he said.
"We are expecting more cases. Anyone with or without symptoms should get tested."
Mayor praises locals for doing 'the right thing'
Gunnedah Mayor Jamie Chaffey said the majority of locals were following health orders and getting vaccinated.
"But since more cases have been seen within the community, testing facilities have been open and we've been seeing more people come out. And I expect that will be the case for the next week."
Vaccination rates for Gunnedah currently sit at 89 per cent for the first dose and 46.4 per cent for both doses.
In nearby Tamworth, 88.1 per cent of locals have received their first dose, and 57.1 per cent are fully vaccinated.
Cr Chaffey said, although the region had previous vaccination supply issues, locals had been lining up over the past several weeks.
"Three weeks ago was the first Pfizer clinic in Gunnedah, and we've seen good numbers come out," he said.
