Deputy premier agrees Tamworth is prime example of region to exit lockdown on Saturday

The region has been in lockdown since August 9, but is yet to register a positive test from a resident and has not recorded any trace of COVID-19 in the sewage in over a week.

At a media briefing on Monday, Deputy Premier John Barilaro said he would support lockdowns being looked at on a local government area (LGA) basis, and that, if that was to be the case, then Tamworth residents could be given greater freedom from Sunday.

"There have been no further cases up there, which is great news, and that would lend itself perfectly [to exiting lockdown]," Mr Barilaro said.

"LGA connection to another LGA [without cases], sewage surveillance and no new cases, why wouldn't it be one of the candidates to come out if we went down this model."

He said some regions that are without cases would likely still face lockdowns if they are in close proximity to other areas that are part of the current outbreak.

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However, the closest location to Tamworth that has recorded a positive in the past week is Cessnock, in the lower Hunter.

A case has also been reported to the west in Gulargambone within the Coonamble LGA. That was confirmed on Sunday evening, along with another 14 in Dubbo.

While signalling he would support the LGA approach, Mr Barilaro said there was no guarantee it would be put in place, because the government was concerned about the interconnectivity of regional NSW.

"It's a hard one because there was an example out at Wilcannia at a sheep station with shearers that have come from all over the state," he said.

"If you look at where they come from and where that movement is from in relation to the ordinary function of our regions, they do move beyond LGAs.

"It is something that is normal in the regions for services, for goods, for employment and especially in the ag sector where we're coming into season.

"So to restrict people to an LGA would make it difficult to function."

Mr Barilaro said a meeting to discuss the regional NSW lockdown will take place on Wednesday.

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