Bathurst's southern neighbour only came out of lockdown two-and-a-half weeks ago, and had not had a COVID case throughout the whole pandemic until this week.

But the detection of COVID fragments in a sewage sample last week was an early sign that there might be a problem and the confirmation of a positive case early in the week confirmed it.

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According to Member for Bathurst Paul Toole, the town is now up to five active cases.

Western NSW Local Health District announced on Wednesday afternoon that stay-at-home orders for the Oberon local government area will be reintroduced from 6pm today for seven days "due to an increased COVID-19 public health risk".

This stay-at-home order will also apply to anyone who has been in the Oberon local government area since September 20.

The health district said everyone in the local government area must stay at home unless it is for an essential reason, which includes shopping for food, medical care, getting vaccinated, compassionate needs, exercise and work or tertiary education if you can't work or study at home.

To determine the extent of the risk and detect any further potential COVID-19 cases in these areas, the health district is calling on the communities in the local government area to come forward for testing in large numbers.

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