Investigators have traced a case of COVID-19 confirmed in Armidale on Sunday, and now know where it was contracted.
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Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall said it was now a known case and the person was now completely self-isolated.
"This person had personal contact with a couple that we already know about who have COVID-19 in our area," he said.
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"The authorities were initially unsure of where that person acquired COVID-19. There's been some very good detective work done by NSW Police and other authorities, and it's good now that we know where that case has come from.
"There is no concern at this stage that that person has come in contact with, or transferred the virus to another person."
Mr Mashall said there were six cases of the disease in the Northern Tablelands, and despite there being no new cases on Monday, he urged everyone to abide by the new restrictions.
"I need everyone in the electorate to take this so seriously," he said.
"What we do in the next week or two will determine whether we're dealing with the next six months, or potentially, the next 12-months, depending on how quickly it spreads. Stay at home."
"Can I just thank the people of the Northern Tablelands because since we've started to get cases in our region, I have noticed a shift in people's behaviour. It's discernibly much more quite in Armidale, it's very quiet in Inverell and Glen Innes."
Individuals can now be fined $11,000 for leaving their home without a reasonable excuse under tough new restrictions from Tuesday. A public health order is now in place to enforce social distancing rules surrounding COVID-19.
Under the order acceptable excuses include: obtaining food or other goods and services, travelling for work or education, exercise and medical or caring reasons.
It also prohibits people from gathering in groups of more than two in public places, with the exceptions being gatherings of household members and gatherings essential for work or education.
New England Police District superintendent Scott Tanner said the new restrictions were now there to protect everybody in the community, not just the elderly.
"In the last couple of days the police have conducted mover 50 compliance checks on people who have returned from overseas," he said.
"I'm pleased to say that nobody was found to be breaching those containments. The two person rule is in place, and police have now been authorised to issue on the spot fines for persons who are breaching that.
"I don't want to get into a position where we're handing out fines every single day of the week because I think the community of New England are a lot smarter than that."
