The local government area of Orange in NSW’s Central West has entered a week-long lockdown as of midnight yesterday.

A COVID-positive pet food delivery driver from south-west Sydney infected a resident of nearby Blayney, triggering health alerts for five retailers in Orange including an Officeworks and Woolworths.

The lockdown also includes the local government areas of Blayney and Cabonne Shire Council.

Essential reasons to leave home are limited to:

• Shopping for food or other essential goods and services
• Medical care or compassionate needs (people can leave home to have a COVID-19 vaccination unless you have been identified as a close contact)
• Exercise outdoors in groups of 2 or fewer (unless members of the same household)
• Work, or education, where you cannot work or study from home.

A grace period to attend weddings and funerals will apply until midnight on Thursday, after which only 10 people can attend.

NSW Police Western Region Commander Geoff McKechnie confirmed while testing clinics have large queues, no compliance issues have arisen as of yet.

“This is going to throw up some challenges for us as a community, and as a police force.

“I’m confident that we’ll work through whatever issues arise.”

No new cases were reported in the region until 8pm last night.

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Image: Getty