Despite thousands of tests no COVID-19 cases were recorded in Tamworth or Armidale overnight as both districts grapple with seven-day lockdowns.
Tamworth is in its first day of lockdown after a woman who did not know she was infectious travelled to the area last week.
The three cases diagnosed on the weekend in Armidale remain contained in the same household.
Those cases prompted a snap lockdown of the Armidale local government area on Saturday and the closure of the Armidale Secondary College for deep cleaning.
Strict stay-at-home orders are in place for both council areas.
Hunter New England Health public health physician David Durrheim said testing numbers in both areas had increased.
"It's incredible," he said.
"We've seen this every time with the folks of New England — they take this incredibly seriously and they know there's vulnerable people in the community.
"We know it's patience-taxing to wait in those queues.
"We thank people for responding, it's the best way of fighting the virus and getting on top of it, containing it and not allowing it to spread in the region."
Dr Durrheim said health authorities would also be watching sewerage testing in the Tamworth and Armidale regions closely and he was hopeful the lock down would not surpass one week.
Meantime a number of exposure sites are still listed for Tamworth, with people who visited these venues on the particular dates and times urged to get tested and follow health advice.
