Mid North Coast Health officials are continuing extensive contact tracing investigations after Bunnings and The Shack cafe in Port Macquarie were named exposure sites linked to a positive case in South Kempsey.

Coles in Belgrave Street, Kempsey has also been confirmed as an exposure site on August 17 between 11.45am and 12.10pm.

The store has confirmed it has been comprehensively deep cleaned.

A 14-year-old girl contracted the virus in Newcastle last week, before returning home to Kempsey where she later tested positive.

A second Kempsey case, a close contact of the 14-year-old girl, was confirmed on Friday (August 20).

Read more: NSW records Australia's highest COVID cases in a single day

Drive through testing sites in both Port Macquarie and Kempsey have ramped up operations and Mid North Coast Local Health District (MNCLHD) is urging anyone who has been advised they are a close contact, or a casual contact by visiting any of the named exposure sites, to get tested immediately.

Sewage surveillance has also detected virus fragments in the wastewater treatment plant in Port Macquarie which services about 59,000 residents. Ongoing surveillance across all Mid North Coast wastewater treatment sites continues.

Public health investigations across the Mid North Coast are ongoing and further advice will be provided on other businesses/locations if they are considered exposure sites of concern.

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Anyone who attended Bunnings or Little Shack in Port Macquarie or Coles in Belgrave Street, Kempsey at the dates and times listed is a casual contact who must immediately get tested and isolate until a negative result is received.

All close contacts have been contacted and informed as part of normal contract tracing processes.

They must get tested and isolate for 14 days, regardless of the result, MNCLHD confirmed.

Anyone else who has been at the venues at the date and times listed is considered a casual contact, must get tested and isolate until a negative result is received.

To find a testing clinic near you, visit the NSW Government website www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/health-and-wellbeing/clinics

Mid North Coast Local Health District (MNCLHD) has advised that the drive through COVID-19 testing clinic at Port Macquarie Regional Stadium on Boundary Street is now open extended hours from 8am to 6pm daily.

There is also a drive through testing site at Kempsey's Riverside Park reserve at the Austral Street boat ramp open to 4pm on weekends and 6pm on weekdays.

MNCLHD urges anyone feeling unwell with even with the mildest of symptoms to come forward for testing.

As part of the NSW lockdown, new visitation arrangements will apply at all Mid North Coast healthcare facilities to better protect staff and patients.

Visitors will only be allowed for:

Any visitor allowed to attend a site will also need to comply with COVID-19 assessment questions.

The NSW Health Minister sent a clear and stern message - the state will not get out of this lockdown situation while there are people in the community who "do not give a damn".

Three more people died overnight bringing the total number of deaths since June 16 to 68.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said vaccination is the ticket to freedom.

The state needs to reach 70-80 per cent double dose vaccination for restrictions to be eased. The Premier said at current vaccination rates, that could be achieved by mid-November.

"It is important for us to focus on getting vaccination rates up. Vaccination is preventing hospitalisation, and vaccination is preventing death. Delta is nothing like Australia has seen before. Even in harsh lockdown the virus is spreading - and that is a fact.

"I appeal to everybody - please consider the greater good. Only a few people are doing the wrong thing, but it is having catastrophic consequences."

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Health Minister Brad Hazzard said those who flout the rules are holding the state to ransom.

"There are those amongst us who just don't seem to give a damn," the Minister said.

"They are out attending parties, out doing what they have been told not to do, they are facilitating the spread of the virus. I say to them you are ransoming our future, you are ensuring none of us get back to a normal life.

"We are in a very serious situation here in NSW. If you can get one of the two vaccines available here in NSW, go and get it."

The Greater Sydney lockdown has been extended until the end of September and introduced a curfew in local government areas of concern. Permits will also be required for Greater Sydney people who need to travel to regional NSW for essential work from today (August 21).

Regional NSW lockdown will be reviewed on August 28. The government has mandated the use of masks outdoors at all time across NSW, apart from when exercising.

Vaccines will be mandated for childcare and disability care workers.

Deputy premier John Barilaro said grave concerns remain for the western parts of NSW with 38 more cases overnight, 32 of those in Dubbo.

In Wilcannia, a further 12 cases were reported with two more in Broken Hill.

Mr Barilaro said one case was reported in Newcastle - a region that has successfully proven the value of following lockdown rules and health advice in protecting its community and reducing cases numbers significantly.

Sewage detection levels in Orange and Lithgow remains a concern, he said.

More than 681 infringement notices were issued across NSW for breaching Public Health Orders, with 50 court attendance notices imposed by NSW Police.

The Mid North Coast Local Health District is vaccinating its staff and eligible members of the community when appointments become available.

The local health district has moved its COVID-19 vaccination clinic from Port Macquarie Base Hospital to 35 Grant Street.

Go to the online COVID-19 vaccine eligibility checker to find out when and where you can receive a COVID-19 vaccine.

You can also speak with your local participating pharmacist or GP about the vaccine that is right for you.

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