'Business as usual': Tamworth MP Kevin Anderson tests negative to COVID-19 after Sydney scare

However, Mr Anderson will remain in isolation until at least July 6 and will continue to undergo tests for the virus.

The news comes after Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall tested positive to COVID-19 on Thursday, after being exposed to the virus when dining at a Sydney pizza restaurant on Monday night.

Mr Anderson was deemed a close contact of Mr Marshall's.

Mr Anderson had travelled back to Tamworth before he was ordered to get tested and isolate for 14 days, regardless of the result.

"It just goes to show it can happen anywhere, any time," he said.

"You can get caught up in a situation where you don't even know that there is a problem.

"I've gone to parliament, gone to my work - a lot of people travel away for work - and I've travelled home like I've done hundreds of other times as well.

"And it wasn't until I was at home that I was notified there was a possible positive case in parliament."

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Mr Anderson was notified of his negative result at about midnight Thursday. He now needs to test negative two more times before he can come out of isolation.

But the local MP said it's business as usual and it will be straight back to focusing on the electorate, just not face-to-face.

"I'm set up to work from home while keeping our community safe, it will be business as usual for me," he said.

"As far as I'm concerned you've got to take these things seriously, and a lot of people are still working from home so I'll do the same."

One of Mr Anderson's staff members is also in isolation, but his Tamworth staff will continue to operate.

Meanwhile, Deputy Premier John Barilaro has confirmed he has tested negative to COVID-19, but will remain in isolation for 14 days after also being identified as a close contact of Minister for Agriculture Adam Marshall.

Hunter New England Health has told New England people to reconsider plans to go to Sydney, especially with the school holidays approaching.

The region has so far escaped the health orders in place in the metropolitan area, but anyone who has been to Sydney, the Central Coast, Wollongong or the Blue Mountains in the past 14 days must wear a face mask in most non-residential settings.

This rule does not apply to hospitals, schools, aged care centres, prisons, constructions sites or hotel rooms.

Sydney recorded 17 new locally acquired cases overnight on Friday.

Residents in seven Sydney local government areas have been ordered not to leave the metropolitan area, and Premier Gladys Berejiklian said on Friday morning that anyone who lives or works in the Woollahra, Waverley, Randwick or Sydney council areas must not leave home for a week from 11.59pm on Friday.

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