Coronavirus pandemic: Two people tested return negative results for COVID-19 in Armidale

Two people were tested for COVID-19 in Armidale, as they had been in contact with the person who was the city's second case of coronavirus, earlier this week.

Both tests came back negative on Wednesday and Thursday, which means the good news is there is still only the two confirmed cases in Armidale.

But it also means there is no explanation for how the latest confirmed case was contracted, as the person had not come in contact with any known cases.

Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall said he expects that from next week, the electorate should start seeing the first of the region's cases move from the confirmed COVID-19 category to the recovered category.

The first cases in the electorate were in Inverell and Emmaville, near Glen Innes.

"I urge everybody to show these people respect as they re-enter the community. They have all done the right things and self-isolated during their illness and now need friendship and support as they get on with their lives, not hate and personal attacks on social media," he said.

However, when NSW Health might officially release this information is unknown.

In the latest health update from Hunter New England Health on Thursday, the organisation revealed eight new coronavirus cases had been confirmed in their district in the latest 24-hour testing period, to 8pm on Wednesday.

It brings the HNEH district total to 262 confirmed cases.

There have been eight confirmed cases in the Northern Tablelands.

The first coronavirus cases in the region were an Inverell couple who returned home from a cruise and were diagnosed last month, followed by an Emmaville couple who had also been on a cruise.

There was another case in Inverell after a group of travellers returned home. Others from the group were also tested.

Armidale had its first confirmed case of coronavirus after a test for the virus came back positive on Sunday, March 29.

The seventh case was a Uralla resident who had returned from an overseas trip, before the eighth case, in Armidale, earlier this week.

A spokesperson from HNEH clarified how the district's COVID-19 case tally works on Thursday: "The number of confirmed cases includes those who have passed away and those who have recovered," the statement said.

NSW had the lowest increase in cases since early March in the last 24-hour testing period, with 39 new patients diagnosed with the virus.