When he spoke to the Central Western Daily Mr Donato was still holed up in Parliament House in Sydney, which shut its doors as agriculture minister Adam Marshall tested positive after dining with colleagues earlier in the week.

Following the premier's press conference little more than an hour prior, Mr Donato said he was still awaiting advice as to his next steps but had already made the decision to isolate in the coming days as a matter of precaution.

"I was relieved to get the negative test result, definitely, but we are still waiting on advice. There's a handful of us that aren't certain as to what happens next, but I will be staying here in Sydney regardless," Mr Donato said, just before 2pm.

"Although I've tested negative now, I could become symptomatic in the next few days so I think being cautious is the right way forward without having received a Public Health Order yet, it's a rapidly changing situation.

"They could lock us down soon in Sydney, we just don't know, but I've spoken to my wife and I don't want to put her or anyone else at risk. I definitely don't want to be responsible for bringing COVID-19 back to Orange either."

Mr Donato was stuck at Parliament House due simply to 'arriving at the office early', prior to doors being closed on Thursday morning, which came after communications only 16 MPs would be permitted to enter the building.

"I was already in the office because I had a bill on and I wanted to prepare for that, so I couldn't leave because of all us needed to be tested," Mr Donato said, the rapid testing a move to ensure the budget vote could go ahead.

"The premier considered herself a 'casual' contact and I'd have thought I was even more casual than that, if there is even a lesser threshold. I didn't go to any of the functions or the places outlined as exposure risks.

"But you just don't know, Parliament House is a building with elevators and a lot of people touching railings and that kind of thing but I think it's best to be as cautious as possible, because this is about keeping everyone safe.

"So I'll be isolating here regardless for at least the next few days and I'll be getting another test early next week. Then I'll make a decision, if I am able to come back to Orange and it's safe to do so I will, otherwise I'll be here for the next two weeks."

All MPs who attended Parliament on Tuesday and Wednesday have been ordered into isolation after Mr Marshall tested positive.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian confirmed she too had returned a negative test result in her update on Thursday morning.

She announced no changes to restrictions, which have been significantly tightened in Greater Sydney, the Central Coast, Blue Mountains, Wollongong and Shellharbour.

It came after 18 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 were revealed in NSW to 8pm on Wednesday night, however, 13 of them were announced that day.

Ms Berejiklian said "since the pandemic has started, this is perhaps the scariest period that New South Wales is going through".

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