Six of the now 27 confirmed cases in the Port Macquarie-Hastings local government area have an "unknown source of infection". They are identified as "locally acquired" and public health investigations and case interviews are ongoing in these cases.

The Kempsey LGA is still listed as having between one and four confirmed cases.

Mid North Coast Local Health District is contacting close contacts of the new cases, who are asked to self-isolate for 14 days from last contact.

They will be contacted daily to check that they are well and anyone who develops COVID-19 symptoms will be tested for the virus.

Statistics on the NSW Health website as of 8pm on April 1 shows that:

Tougher restrictions are in force across the state to slow the spread of the virus.

Testing has commenced on developing a vaccine for COVID-19.

The testing is expected to take three months and will be carried out at the Australian Animal Health Laboratory in Geelong as part of a partnership with the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations.

A public health order is now in place to enforce social distancing rules that the NSW Government says will deal with the public health risk of COVID-19 and its possible consequences.

Under the order, "a person must not, without reasonable excuse, leave the person's place of residence". Fines of up to $11,000 can be imposed.

The government will spend $130 billion over the next six months to keep about six million Australians in jobs, in the third and largest stimulus package to cushion the impact of coronavirus on the economy.

A spokesperson from the Mid Coast Health District said staff understand there are concerns in the community about the location of people with COVID-19, as people are obviously keen to protect themselves against the virus.

"Please be assured that anyone diagnosed with COVID-19 and their close contacts are either being treated in hospital or are in self-isolation to ensure there is no ongoing risk of infection to others in the community," she said.

Members of the community can help to prevent the spread of COVID-19 by staying home where possible, washing their hands thoroughly for at least 20 seconds with soap and water or alcohol-based hand rub, covering coughs and sneezes, maintaining social distance and observing rules on social gathering.

For further health advice, visit the NSW Health website.

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