Bushfire-ravaged NSW South Coast turning away Easter tourists amid coronavirus fears

The NSW South Coast, in desperate need of tourist dollars, is now telling holidaymakers to stay away at the Easter break.

After being ravaged by fire, the region is in a desperate need of an economic boost.

But the threat of coronavirus has exposed an even bigger problem than ones faced in recent months.

There are no ICU bed between Nowra and Bega and Batemans Bay GP of 45 years David Rivett says a local outbreak would be "catastrophic".

"Given the elderly population and the large number of nursing homes down here, it could be catastrophic," Dr Rivett said.

"We've had instances of patients coming down here with the coronavirus to shelter at holiday homes and we don't have the intensive care facilities to support them if they get into trouble."

There are currently 16 cases of COVID-19 in between Batemans Bay and Eden.

Local MPs have also joined the call for tourist to go home.

"We've had fires, floods, now we have coronavirus – I'm waiting for locusts and the headless horsemen of the apocalypse next," Kiama's Gareth Ward told 9News.

"We've had everything thrown at our community, so the last thing we need is additional pressures from Sydneysiders thinking it's alright to trundle down here on holiday.

"It's not – go home.

"The state government have allocated health resources based on where people live, not where they have a holiday house."

The message is another blow for struggling business owners.

It's now been 12 months since many coastal towns have had any real trade.

Eurobodalla Shire Mayor Liz Innes said a lot of businesses "aren't going to make it".

"Words can't express how tough it is down here," Ms Innes said.

"We will get through this and we will rebuild and rise from the ashes, it's just going to take some time."