Orange has passed its second pandemic lockdown in 18 months — with flying colours!

 Grim fears that the region would be facing a Sydney, or even a Melbourne-style protracted quarantine period — ended following near-exemplary compliance from residents of the Colour City.

 Earlier this week it was confirmed that Orange, Blayney, and Cabonne Local Government areas were reverting to the same restrictions as the rest of regional NSW.

 Cessation of the lockdown orders followed a week's worth of COVID testing with drive-through line-ups and no new positive cases.

 More than 10,000 local tests were conducted over the week-long lockdown, representing nearly one-in-five locals with long line-ups the first few days of testing at locations including Wade Park.

 The lockdown followed a confirmed case of COVID-19 in Cabonne Local Government Area for a person who was active in the community in mid-July.

 Five locations across Orange were then identified as exposure sites before health officials and the NSW Government threw Orange, Blayney and Cabonne into a snap, seven-day lockdown.

 Orange Mayor Reg Kidd has welcomed the relaxing of the COVID-19 lockdown but has urged

residents to remain vigilant.

 “This is a result of the community knuckling down, following the health orders and the lock

down and staying safe,” Cr Kidd said. “Without that we would not be here today.”

 Cr Kidd said while the news was good there were still challenges ahead. “What we have learned over the last 18 months is that this pandemic will continue to throw-up new challenges,” Cr Kidd said

 “Continuing to meet those challenges as we have this lockdown is our best chance of getting

through this.”

 “I am also thankful that relaxing the lockdown will bring some relief to business who have had

to shut-up shop. While this is predominately a public health issue those business owners have

families and employees, and how they are managing through this must be incredibly difficult.”

 Cr Kidd said the message to the community was straightforward.

 “The best thing to do is follow the COVID safe rules, where necessary get tested and if you

can, get vaccinated,” the Mayor said.

 Local State Member Phil Donato earlier said that he’d been advised that sewage testing results for the region had also not found any presence of the COVID-19 infection in the region.

 He added that he was “super-proud” of the efforts of local communities and how they had responded to the testing and compliance regimes.

 “Let’s get back to pre-lock-down life, in what is easily the best place in our state to live,” Mr Donato said.