Police in the Central West have issues a stern warning ahead of school holidays and Easter, telling residents holidays and travel are "not essential" and families should cancel plan, while also warning others to not travel to the region over the coming weeks.
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The NSW government has put laws into effect stating people need reasonable excuses to be leaving their home during the coronavirus pandemic.
Central West Police District superintendent Steve Kenwell said police understood "frustrations at this time" but stressed people needed to cancel Easter travel plans, be that people heading away from Orange or for people visiting the region.
"Holidays and travel are not essential," he said.
"If you have a holiday booked in for this Easter or school holiday break - cancel it.
"We know this is hard, especially after the heartbreaking bushfire season and ongoing drought impacting many of our holiday destinations, but this is something every person has to do - everyone needs to do their part."
He said tourism operators had a responsibility to encourage people to stay home.
"If you are an accommodation operator - you need to tell the public that visitors aren't welcome," Supt Kentwell said.
"We appreciate the pressures many businesses in the tourism industry are facing - holiday rentals, licensed hotels and accommodation providers, caravan parks, tourism operators - under the current NSW Public Health Act regulations, we cannot be encouraging people to visit our popular locations and destinations.
"As operators in this space, we are urging you to work with us as we all need to work together to spread this message - unfortunately at the moment, we cannot be pleading with the public to visit Orange, Parkes and Forbes.
"All of these rules are in place to protect the health and safety of not just travellers, but residents in these smaller communities.
"An influx of visitors could put their health systems under pressure, whilst potentially transferring the virus from one part of the state to another."
He said the orders also applied to thousands of visitors and backpackers currently in NSW.
"We cannot have additional persons migrating to parts of western region, the safest thing at the moment is to stay where you are," Supt Kentwell said.
"Do not decide that now is the time to get in your van and head towards the border.
"The risks greatly outweigh the benefits, and it is now law to stay put."
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