COVID-19 NSW: snap lockdown announced for local government areas of Walgett, Bogan, Bourke, Brewarrina, Coonamble, Gilgandra, Narromine and Warren

NSW Health has confirmed the local government areas of Walgett, Bogan, Bourke, Brewarrina, Coonamble, Gilgandra, Narromine and Warren will now be under stay at home rules.

The order is set to stay in place between 7pm on August 11, and the morning of August 19.

"Everyone in these areas must stay home unless they have a reasonable excuse to leave," the NSW Health statement said.

The lockdown is subject to the same rules as those currently in place in Greater Sydney, Dubbo, Tamworth and several other locations across NSW.

The snap lockdown comes after fresh advice from the NSW chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant.

All the rules are here.

Increased testing has been announced for the western part of the state and people with even the mildest of symptoms have been urged to come forward for a swab.

A testing clinic will open in Walgett on Thursday from 9am at Alex Travillion Park, people need to drive in via the Castlereagh Highway.

Local MP Roy Butler told the Leader keeping out the virus was essential for these rural communities, which he said lack the medical resources to cope with an outbreak, and are battling low levels of vaccination.

He said he hoped the stay at home rules would only last a week, but that police had been going around town on Wednesday night informing business owners they needed to shut up shop.

A COVID-positive inmate bailed from Bathurst Correctional Centre on Monday is now living in Walgett.

Corrective Services NSW confirmed on Wednesday that a 27-year-old inmate had arrived at Bathurst Correctional Centre on Saturday and was COVID-tested as part of the department's protocols.

He was released on bail on Monday before he returned a positive test on Wednesday.

It's understood it is the same man identified this afternoon by Western NSW Local Health District as a COVID-positive case in Walgett.

"The person was tested on 7 August, returning a positive result today. They are considered to have potentially been infectious from 5 August," a spokesperson said.

"The person is also known to have been in Dubbo and Bathurst during their infectious period.

"Investigations and contact tracing are under way."

Barwon MP Roy Butler said the man was unaware he was infected when he returned home to Walgett.

"The news I have feared the most is confirmation of a Covid infection in a Barwon river town. These communities have many people with underlying health issues and often under resourced health services," he said.

"I hope a second test will show negative, but we must act for now as if this is confirmed.

"It is crucial to minimise community transmission now, by staying at home as much as is possible, wearing masks and please get tested for the virus if you have any symptoms. I will publish the actual health orders when they are made."

Western NSW Local Health District has urged anyone with COVID-19 symptoms to come forward for testing.

Additional testing capacity will be provided in Walgett on Thursday.

Additional testing also available at the Mount Panorama testing clinic in Bathurst and at testing clinics in Dubbo.

For information on pop-up testing services currently operating in the Western NSW Local Health District go to: https://wnswlhd.health.nsw.gov.au/covid-19-information

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EARLIER: Contact tracing is under way among staff at the Bathurst Correctional Centre following confirmation a new inmate at the facility has tested positive to COVID-19.

A spokeswoman for Corrective Services NSW said the jail had today been placed in a precautionary lockdown and a number of inmates had been placed in isolation.

"Bathurst Correctional Centre has today (Wednesday 11 August) been placed into a precautionary lockdown after receiving a positive COVID-19 test result from a fresh custody inmate," the spokeswoman said.

"The CSNSW COVID command post is working with staff to identify anyone who has had contact with the inmate.

"A number of inmates have been placed into isolation as a result.

"Contract tracing has commenced for any impacted staff, who will be directed to go for immediate COVID-19 testing and isolate in accordance with NSW Health advice."

The spokeswoman said the safety of all staff and inmates was "our number one priority and remains at the forefront of our decision-making while COVID-19 continues to pose a risk".

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