The Western NSW Local Health District (WNSWLHD) has announced new areas where traces of COVID-19 have been detected from ongoing sewerage testing in the western region, including Cobar and Coonamble.

The news has been hailed as a concerning sign the virus is continuing to spread across the region as local new case numbers continue to climb while testing numbers are still declining.

Across NSW, though the statewide new case locally-acquired numbers went down slightly to 644, the WNSWLHD recorded 27 new cases, taking the region's total active cases to 194.

According to health officials, 21 of these were in Dubbo, two were in Bourke, two in Gilgandra and one in Goodooga.

Three of the Dubbo cases, and one case in both Gilgandra and Goodooga were infectious while in the community.

WNSWLHD Chief Executive Scott McLachlan said 50 per cent of all active cases in the region were under 20 years old while 90 per cent were under 50, showing the virus was spreading amongst young people as they interact with the community

Four people are now in hospital - all in Dubbo - with one person in intensive care and on ventilation.

According to Mr McLachlan there are now 89 venues of concern across the WNSWLHD, including in Dubbo, Mudgee, Bourke, Gilgandra and Walgett.

The full list along with the resulting health orders is available on the NSW Health website and updated daily, sometimes multiple times, based on ongoing investigations by local contact tracing teams.

Overnight, the WNSWLHD was notified of virus fragments detected in sewage samples taken from Bathurst, Parkes on Wednesday 18 August, and Dubbo, Cobar, Coonamble and Narromine on Tuesday 17 August.

Mr McLachlan urged everyone in these communities to come out and get tested for the virus if they experience any signs and symptoms, however mild, as soon as possible.

He said sewerage testing at these locations would continue over the coming days and would be alongside testing at Walgett, Brewarrina, Condobolin, Cowra, Forbes, Oberon, Coonabarabran, Nyngan, Blayney, Molong, Gulargambone, Wellington, Gilgandra and Warren.

Current stay-at-home rules have also recently been extended to 12.01am on Saturday 28 August.

The rules remain effectively the same, though a new rule of compulsory mask wearing while outside will come into effect from Monday 23 August. The only exception to this new rule is if you are exercising.

Testing numbers continued to decline in regional NSW, Mr McLachlan concerned to report only 5,300 people came forward to get tested in the past 24 hours, compared to 10,000 only a couple of days before.

He said people should take the opportunity to get tested with multiple clinics available across the district and the turnaround on results at labs like Laverty Pathology improving.

If people are waiting for more than 72 hours for their test, they can contact their relevant pathology provider:

- Western NSW Health – 1300 066 055 (8am-5pm Monday-Friday)

- Laverty – No results after 48-72 hours call 13 39 36

- Histopath – No results after 24 hours call 9878 8173

Pop-up and drive-through testing sites have also been established and are continuing across all areas where active cases have been identified or virus fragments have been detected in sewage samples.

A full list of testing locations across the Western Plains can be found here.

A testing clinic in Goodooga will be available Monday to Friday from 9am-4pm next week to try and identify any additional cases.

The Australian Defence Force has been tasked to assist with the emergency response in WNSWLHD.

More than 72 personnel will form five teams to administer vaccines at pop-up, walk-in clinics across the District from this weekend onward.

After the initial three-week, first-dose blitz teams will return to all areas visited to administer second doses over a second, three-week period.

For all the latest information about COVID-19, including several handy links, check out our COVID-19 button.