Snap lockdown announced for Armidale following COVID-19 detection

Thousands of residents living in the Armidale council area in NSW's Northern Tablelands have been thrust into a snap lockdown as the state's Delta variant continues its spread.

The strict stay-at-home orders were enforced at 5pm today after two people tested positive to COVID-19.

NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard said it is likely a young person with COVID-19 had brought the disease into the region from Newcastle.

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The XPT Regional Train from Broadmeadow to Armidale via Werris Creek on Thursday 29 July between 11.40am and 5.30pm has been declared a close contact exposure site and anyone who was on it is being asked to get tested and self isolate for 14 days.

"I'm sorry to the people of Armidale local council area," Mr Hazzard said.

"If I were living in the area I would not be going out of the house today. I would be staying at home.

"I will not be visiting friends, and I will be making sure that, I would be making sure that I protect myself and my family."

At the stage the measures will last a week, with restrictions applying to the towns of Armidale and Guyra and anyone who has visited the area since July 31.

The restrictions match those of Greater Sydney and Newcastle, outside the eight high-risk lockdown areas.

Armidale is home to roughly 25,000 people and Guyra approximately 4000.

The news comes as the state battles to keep the outbreak under control with a record 319 cases announced today.

The virus has continues to spread outside of Sydney with the Central Coast and Newcastle now also under lockdown restrictions after positive cases were detected in the area.

Of today's new locally acquired cases, 125 are linked to a known case or cluster – 108 are household contacts and 17 are close contacts.