New South Wales health authorities are adamant regional communities can defy the odds when it comes to beating the spread of coronavirus.

Their message: those from lockdown areas are not welcome in the regions.

Public health physician David Durrheim believes locking down Sydney and nearby areas was the best move.

"It's come at an appropriate time, it's an appropriate measure given the infectiousness of this virus," he said.

Dr Durrheim said the biggest concern was Sydneysiders who had escaped the state capital before the lockdown, potentially exposing regional communities to the virus.

"The Premier has made it very clear that Sydneysiders should not be travelling to the regions for the moment," he said.

Not everyone has abided by the new stay-at-home orders though, making many regional towns nervous.

A man and woman who travelled from Sydney to the Hunter region are among those who have been fined for breaching COVID-19 public health orders.

Police went to Denman on Saturday after a tip-off from the public about three people from Sydney who were at a horse trial event.

Jayne Parker, secretary of the Denman Pony Club, said the new guidelines came into force suddenly and were unclear.

"The guidelines were a bit fuzzy to begin with, it's just disappointing that they've come to our little town," she said.

"I hope that we can continue to run our regional events and maybe be a little more diligent with who comes in and who goes out."

Businesses warn they will dob in rule-breakers

Regional communities are working hard to prevent a COVID-19 outbreak. Towns such as Coffs Harbour have not had a locally acquired case in more than a year.

The manager of Coffs Harbour's Harbourside Markets, Kim Towner, is among business operators who have taken a harder line to protect her community.

She's warned holidaymakers from hotspot areas who deliberately breach COVID-19 restrictions that they will be called out and reported to authorities.

"I would do it and I would urge some people to do it."

Coffs Harbour resident Carolan Buckmaster agreed.

"If you're from a hotspot and you willingly leave, throw the book at them," she said.

"How do we know that people from Sydney hotspots aren't travelling through our tourist town of Coffs Harbour?"

Change of plans

Police have bolstered their presence in Jindabyne as tourism operators and accommodation providers screen bookings from those from hotspot areas.

"It's come as a bit of a shock because the town has been completely full of mostly Sydneysiders," Snowy Monaro Regional Council Mayor Peter Beer said.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian said last week that those in hotspots who had already arrived in holiday towns could stay and isolate.

But Mr Beer said many were leaving to go into lockdown at home.

"The line of traffic going out of the area is a blow to the economy," he said.

"Tourism is the main industry of our local government area."

Jindabyne Chamber of Commerce president Olivier Kapetanakos said many businesses had been able to fill spots thanks to holidaymakers from regional NSW and interstate.

But he said those from other states and territories were hesitant about coming to NSW as the outbreak continued.

Sunshine Coast man Greg Inglis has been holidaying in Coffs Harbour for the past week.

He said the latest restrictions had made him consider cutting his holiday short to avoid the possibility of having to quarantine in Queensland if that state closed its NSW border.

"We don't want to risk having to isolate when we get home," he said.

"We just don't want that to happen."

Mandatory face masks

Meanwhile, regional businesses are adjusting to new rules around mandatory face masks.

Masks are now compulsory in all indoor non-residential settings, including in workplaces, as well as at organised outdoor events.

Some businesses in Newcastle have taken precautionary measures by closing their doors altogether.

The Adamstown Bowling Club closed for 48 hours after two members attended the club when they didn't know they were supposed to be in isolation.

President Brad Johns said staff were told to get tested and a deep clean had taken place.

"We had an abundance of caution and decided to close the club," he said.

Mr Johns said the plan was to reopen on Tuesday.

Another Newcastle venue, Finnegan's Hotel, has closed its doors until Saturday, July 10.

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"As a nightlife venue in Newcastle, we do not believe it is in the best interests of the greater community to continue to trade whilst these restrictions are in place," it announced on its Facebook page.

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