On Sunday night the Federal Government issue an edict limiting gatherings to no more than two people, with the exception of families, to ensure people stay a safe distance from each other.

Central West Police District commander Superintendent Steve Kentwell said police would begin issuing the fines of $1000 to individuals and $5000 to businesses which failed to comply with the new laws.

These laws have now come into force, with police able to issue court attendance notices - which could result in up to an $11,000 fine if convicted.

No people in Orange have been charged as of Monday, but the grace period of offering warnings is now over.

Supt Kentwell urged the public to follow the "important" restrictions.

"Make no bones about it, this is serious and the government is doing this to stop the spread of this virus and protect the vulnerable in our community and our elderly. It's important - please comply with these restrictions," he said.

"We've done a number of cautions initially but from this point forward that period's sort of passed," Supt Kentwell said.

"We're looking now that if anyone is in breach of those orders we will be implementing these fines.

"Disturbingly there has been a number of cases reported to us where we've begun to intervene and issue warnings in relation to self isolation."

He "absolutely" encouraged the public to call in and report breaches of the new laws.

"Crime Stoppers have the ability to make those reports and we encourage people to make those reports in case there are breaches they're concerned about," Supt Kentwell said.

He also said officers would be patrolling the city, with a focus on shopping centres, to ensure laws were being complied with and to ensure people remained civil in checkouts but commended the public for by and large behaving well.

"I have to commend, most people are behaving appropriately and taking this seriously - we're not having as much panic buying as we did initially," Supt Kentwell said.

He also applauded the efforts of cafes to become takeaway-only venues, and for the public to practice social distancing while waiting.

Supt Kentwell said the day-to-day job of policing wouldn't change and it was "business as usual" for regular police duties.

"We have the capability to respond to our normal day-to-day duties as well as respond to as necessary the currently laws we have as a result of the virus," he said.

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