Residents of Orange and across regional NSW should wear a mask when inside public spaces as a defence against a growing COVID-19 outbreak, a rural health leader says.
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And Dr Megan Belot is urging community members to do all they can to keep themselves safe, including prioritising who they see and where they go.
If they don't, NSW will find itself heading for another lockdown, the president-elect of the Rural Doctors Association of Australia warns.
Dr Belot provided the advice before Tuesday's announcement an 18-year-old Berala man had subsequently tested positive to COVID-19 after travelling through Broken Hill, Nyngan and Orange on Saturday and Sunday while infectious.
"People travel a lot, especially around Christmas and you just don't know who has been where and who they have been in contact with," Dr Belot said.
"Just because you don't have any reported cases in your area doesn't mean you don't have to be vigilant."
On Saturday amid growing local cases Premier Gladys Berejiklian made masks mandatory in many indoor settings in Greater Sydney, ending her resistance to the idea.
The measure has not been extended to regional NSW, but Dr Belot advocates them.
"Everyone in regional NSW should wear a mask when they are inside in a public space - shopping centres, cinemas, bars, absolutely," she said.
"This was part of the Victorian response and it seemed to make a difference.
"It also highlights to people that they need to social distance - it keeps it front of mind and serves as a reminder to everyone that they need to be aware of their space."
The rural practitioner suggested if people were eating out and the weather was nice, they could dine outside, or otherwise consider getting takeaway and eating at home.
Dr Belot, who works in the Victorian border town of Echuca, also encouraged individual responsibility.
"Prioritise who you are going to catch up with and what you are going to do," she said.
"Keep yourself safe - if you go into a shop and they have too many people in there, just don't go in.
"It is as much your responsibility as the shop attendants to make sure you are not going over the recommended number of patrons.
If you don't take responsibility for keeping yourself and others safe, then we will be heading for another lockdown.
- Rural Doctors Association of Australia president-elect Dr Megan Belot
"If you don't take responsibility for keeping yourself and others safe, then we will be heading for another lockdown.
"Nobody wants to go through what Melbourne and other areas of Victoria have gone through.
"Stick to the precautions and work to keep everyone safe and going about their business."
By mid-Wednesday, no COVID-19 cases had been detected in western NSW after a testing blitz started.
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