From Friday, any Australian Capital Territory (ACT) resident who has been in the Armidale Regional Council area and wishes to return will need to fill in an exemption form and quarantine for 14 days. This includes people who have received the COVID-19 vaccine.

Non ACT residents who have been in Armidale after Thursday must not enter the ACT unless they obtain an exemption and quarantine at a hotel at their own expense for 14 days.

The ACT made the declaration after Armidale was one of four locations identified by NSW Health on Thursday - along with Dubbo, Woy Woy, and Castle Hill - where fragments of the COVID-19 virus were detected in sewage, which means people are either active with the virus or someone in those areas is recovering from it.

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This was the second time the virus fragments have been found in Armidale sewage.

Sewage testing in Armidale has now been ramped up to twice weekly.

Low levels of positive COVID fragments were detected on July 27, which, at the time, was believed to be local MP Adam Marshall shedding the virus.

Two days later no fragments of the virus were detected, and on August 3 high levels of positive COVID fragments were detected.

"This is of great concern," Mr Marshall said.

"It is now serious, and if people have even the most minor symptoms they really need to get tested.

"If we do have someone in the community with COVID-19 we need to find out and the only way is for people to come forward for testing."

The Armidale Hospital Clinic is continuing to operate extended hours for COVID-19 testing between 9am and 3pm, seven days a week. The extended testing hours will remain in place until at least Sunday, August 15. Appointments can be made by calling 0427 923 080.

The Laverty Pathology drive-through clinic at Airside Business Park on Cameron Drive is also operating Monday to Friday 8am to 4.30pm. The clinic will operate Saturday and Sunday from 8am to 2.30pm. Appointments are not required.

Yesterday NSW Health declared it will reinstate all first jab Pfizer bookings at Armidale and Moree after just this week sending 40,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccination from regional areas to Sydney for HSC students.

It comes following the federal government announcement it will send 180,000 additional Pfizer doses to NSW in the next two weeks and resupply regional areas on August 16.

Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall said anyone who received a text message to say their booking had been cancelled will have their appointments reinstated to make sure they are the first to get the new doses.

"I am advised that NSW Health has already begun reinstating these bookings and will advise each person accordingly," he said.

"This will be very welcome news for the hundreds of locals who were inconvenienced and frustrated by the sudden cancellations."

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Mr Marshall had urged the public to consider the AstraZeneca vaccine if they are eligible to boost protection in the region, after the higher levels of the COVID-19 virus were detected in Armidale's sewage.

"If you are aged 18 to 59 you can contact your doctor today and have a suitability assessment to receive the AstraZeneca vaccines, as soon as an appointment is available," he said.

New England police are asking the public to remain vigilant and follow COVID-19 regulations.

The 14 NSW local government areas declared as COVID affected areas by the ACT are: Armidale Regional Council, Cessnock City Council, Coffs Harbour City Council, Dubbo Regional Council, Dungog Shire Council, Lake Macquarie City Council, Newcastle City Council, Maitland City Council, Mid-Western Regional Council, Muswellbrook Shire Council, Port Stephens Council, Shoalhaven City Council, Singleton Council, Wingecarribee Shire Council.

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