That percentage has spiked following the two-hour visit to Birdie Noshery & Drinking Est. on January 3 by a man from hot spot Berala in Sydney's west who later tested positive to COVID.

About 270 people were swabbed for COVID from about 8am to 5pm on Thursday at the city's three testing sites.

"We are very pleased with the number of people coming forward to be tested in Orange," a Western NSW Local Health District spokesperson said.

However they emphasised the importance of residents not becoming "complacent".

"As we know the virus is still spreading through the NSW community.

"We urge anyone in NSW with even the mildest symptoms, such as headache, fatigue, cough, sore throat or runny nose, to come forward immediately for testing, then isolate until they receive a negative result."

About 35 people were tested on Thursday between 8am and 4pm at the new Emus site, where a smaller gazebo tent was set to be replaced by a larger structure.

By about 12pm on Friday another 30 or so had been added to that list.

The testing rate of 57 per 1,000 in Orange was well below the rate in the Northern Beaches, home to the Avalon cluster (518 per 1,000); Central Coast (79) and Blue Mountains (75).

However it was greater than regional areas such as Bathurst and Broken Hill (both 41 per 1,000); Oberon (24); Tweed (23); Forbes and Parkes (both 21).

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