The impact has been devastating among some industries such as hospitality and the arts, but it will prompt plenty of discussion about work cultures and public health.

However, Orange Pinnacle dermatologist Michelle McRae might see an acceleration of her profession moving to an online space, something which has been happening for over a decade to cope with a shortage of rural doctors.

Dr McRae is one of the few dermatologists west of the mountains, and sees patients from as far as Cobar, Bourke and Grenfell, and since coronavirus cases began arriving in Australia has tried to limit as much contact as possible.

"We've still got a lot of patients to see so we've been trying to do more teleconferencing," Dr McRae said.

"Some people won't want to come in and we're okay with that because I don't want my staff exposed either.

"[However] most people rural want to actually see you in person and a lot of it can't be done online, skin checks and things like that are hard."

Dr McRae has been pushing for more teleconferences - especially for those just having checkups - for patients who would otherwise have to travel hundreds of kilometres where possible.

It helps alleviate stress on the more than 50 per cent of her patients who come from outside Orange, with many of them needing to find somewhere to stay when they travel from remote distances.

However, there are still major barriers for some.

Dr McRae said many patients, especially older ones, were unable to access links on mobile phones which were either too outdated or in some cases non-existent.

"There are lots of older Australians or rural Australians who haven't upgraded phones or only have a landline because of connections," she said.

"The other issue we have in regional areas is a strong enough internet connection to have the right connection speed.

"I had one the other day, we had to do it over the phone and even though she was in Canowindra she had satellite connection."

For those who do come in, they're being asked to wait in the car instead of the waiting room, and to thoroughly wash their hands when they do come in to protect doctors and staff, but it's been water off the duck's back according to Dr McRae.

"Rural people have been really accommodating," she said.