Orange has recorded three new locally-acquired COVID cases - as of 8pm last night.
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According to the Western NSW Local Health District (WNSWLHD), two of these people were in the community while infectious.
Health chief Scott McLachlan has stressed that neither of these people knew they were positive and had mistaken their symptoms for hay-fever.
"Those two cases are in isolation now and are known to be linked to two people who travelled to Orange from out of town and were active in the community during their infectious period," he said.
"They did not knowingly do so, the people were not aware they were COVID-positive when they travelled to Orange.
"In fact, they had mistaken their symptoms for hay fever, which has very similar symptoms to COVID-19. This is further proof of how important it is to come forward for testing as a priority if you have any symptoms at all, don't brush them off and assume it's just hay fever."
The news came as new exposure cites in Orange were added to NSW Health website.
- READ ALSO: 10 deaths, 594 new COVID-19 cases in NSW
This comes as Orange Ex-Services Club and K-Mart were added as venues of concern after a COVID-positive person visited both during the city's first post-lockdown weekend on Saturday, September 25, and Sunday, September 26.
The person visited the Orange Ex-Services Club on Saturday, September 25 from 9.55pm to 11pm and on Sunday, September 26 between 5.10pm and 6.10pm.
The person then visited K-Mart in the Central Square Shopping Centre on Sunday, September 26, between 4pm and 5pm.
It it not yet known if this COVID-positive person who visited these two venues is included in Orange's new case numbers which were announced today, or if they were just passing through the city.
On Wednesday, WNSWLHD also reported another eight new cases for the region - including the three in Orange. These were in Cowra (2), Dubbo (1), Bathurst (1) and Narromine (1).
- READ ALSO: Paul Toole new leader of NSW Nationals
Orange residents are being urged to get tested for COVID, including those without symptoms. Surveillance testing is now available in the region - meaning that people without symptoms will not need to isolate while awaiting results.
"[The new cases are] further proof that we can't relax, COVID-19 is still creeping around our communities and can re-emerge anywhere, at any time," Mr McLachlan said.
"We must continue coming forward for testing and getting vaccinated - vaccination is our best protection against COVID-19."
COVID-19 testing is currently available at the Wade Park drive-through clinic from 8am to 4pm, and at the Orange Showgrounds from 8am to 4pm.
Bookings are not required for either drive-through clinic.
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