Health authorities have confirmed a positive coronavirus case in Orange in the New South Wales central west.
The Western NSW Local Health District (WNSWLHD) said the case was linked to a known cluster in Sydney and that the student was isolating in Orange.
The confirmed case has a residential address outside the Orange region and was visiting for a clinical placement with Charles Sturt University.
The student was part of a clinical team at the Orange Health Service on Monday.
A positive diagnosis was received late yesterday afternoon but the student was isolating since Monday evening.
WNSWLHD said 10 people who were close contacts of the case, which included staff, patients and students, were isolating for 14 days and being tested for coronavirus.
"We have been very quick to follow up with that student," said the LHD's chief executive Scott McLachlan.
"That student immediately isolated and has been doing everything right including getting tested very early."
Region's first case since early in pandemic
It was the first case reported in the inland region since April.
"This is a perfect example of a person travelling and spreading the virus," Mr McLachlan said.
Orange's fever clinic has reopened and would operate this weekend, while a drive-through clinic has been established at the Orange Showground.
On Thursday, Mr McLachlan warned people not to become complacent after he was tested for coronavirus.
He had been self-isolating after visiting the same shopping centre as a confirmed case at Salamander Bay in the Port Stephens region two weeks ago.
WNSWLHD has trained 115 people to be called up for contact tracing in the region to manage new cases.
In a statement, a Charles Sturt University spokesperson said the institution was working closely with health authorities and was urging people to get tested, even if their symptoms were mild.
The region's total case number remained at 45, because the person did not live in Orange and was visiting.
The WNSWLHD would not confirm which Sydney cluster the case was linked to.
