Urging residents to stick together, stay calm, and follow stay at home restrictions, Mr Gee said now was the time for communities to rally, rather than lose heart, after the entire state was plunged into a lockdown following the increasingly growing COVID-19 concern across NSW.

The total number of active cases in the Western NSW Local Health District is now near 100, and fragments of the COVID-19 virus have been detected in sewage systems across the region.

State-wide, that daily figure of new cases was at 478 on Monday.

"We've been here before, we've come through, and we can do it again. No region in the country has had to deal with as many natural disasters and challenges as we have. We've had drought, floods, bushfires, a mouse plague and now another round of covid lockdowns. We'll get on top of this latest challenge too," Mr Gee said.

"Orange, Blayney and Cabonne showed during the last lockdown that if everyone does the right thing we can get out of them faster. So let's stick together, look after each other and put this lockdown in the rear view mirror as soon as we can."

He said the state-wide NSW lockdown is scheduled to end at 12:01am on Sunday, August 22.

"Let's all do our part and try to keep it to seven days," Mr Gee added.

"Our thoughts are with our business owners and their staff who had to scramble on Saturday, as the state-wide lockdown announced by the NSW Government happened very suddenly, giving them very little time to get their affairs sorted and ducks in a row before restrictions took effect," said Minister Gee.

"I encourage residents to get tested for COVID-19 if you display any symptoms of the virus. Now, more than ever, it is better to be safe than sorry," said Mr Gee.

The stay at home orders stipulate that primary and secondary schooling will be done from home, but schools will be open for the children of essential workers.

"Our thoughts are also with HSC students across the region, who are not only dealing with the pressure of final exams and assessments, but who must also adapt to changing learning environments. Our teachers must also be recognised for their perseverance and dedication to our region's youth, despite such trying times," he added.

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