Residents in the Dubbo local government area woke this morning Wednesday 11 August to news that a person in the city has tested positive to COVID-19 and are now bracing for news of a lockdown.

Testing for the virus have been ramped up as traces of COVID-19 were detected in Dubbo's sewage three times over the past week.

The positive case is a member of the Dubbo West Public School community and, as a result, the school has been closed today. Authorities will not confirm whether the case is a student or a teacher. Macquarie Anglican Grammar School, where a student has been identified as a close contact, is also closed and parents have been advised.

Nine other residents have so far been identified as close contacts and are self-isolating.

No exposure sites have yet been reported and further cases are expected as the confirmed case is believed not to have been infectious when the first virus fragment was found in sewage on 3 August.

Contact tracers are working to determine the source of the infection.

Official advice on restrictions is expected mid morning but in the meantime residents are being urged to limit their movements and interaction with others and to get tested if they have any symptoms at all.

Extra staff have been allocated to the testing sites at Dubbo Showground and the Manera Plaza will re-open this morning after deep cleaning.

People in surrounding areas who may have travelled to Dubbo in the past week who have symptoms or are concerned to get also tested.

A third test from the Mudgee sewage is expected today.

Keep up to date with the latest announcements COVID-19here