After Tuesday's closure of the Victorian-NSW border it was publicly announced a Victorian teenager visiting Merimbula had been diagnosed with COVID-19.
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On Wednesday, a Southern NSW Local Health District (SNSWLHD) spokesperson said the whole family had been tested prior to leaving Victoria and were told they were okay to leave.
"When they arrived in NSW they were told there was an error in the testing and that the teenager had tested positive," the spokesperson said.
"They then went into quarantine. They are not from a known hotspot."
The family arrived on Saturday, July 4, visited the Tathra Hotel on Sunday, July 5, then went into quarantine in Merimbula on Monday, July 6.
NSW Chief Medical Officer Dr Kerry Chant said 80 other patrons who were in the hotel were being contacted by NSW Health and she congratulated the hotel for having a COVID-19 safety plan.
The hotel announced it would still close for a short time, despite NSW Health advising a closure was unnecessary.
"...All the staff that were working on Sunday need to get tested and are not allowed back at the hotel until they have a negative test result," a post on the hotel's social media page stated on Wednesday.
"So the hotel is closed due to a staff shortage rather than any health orders."
Bega Valley GP Duncan Mackinnon recommended tourists be tested at local clinics while visiting the region.
On Thursday, a SNSWLHD spokesperson said there was one new confirmed coronavirus case in the district, a Queanbeyan-Palerang woman who had returned from overseas and was in quarantine in Sydney, bringing the district's total to 55 after 17,633 tests.
The spokesperson said the Victorian teenager had been included in Victoria's figures and the LHD would continue to screen passengers arriving on flights from Victoria to Merimbula.
Meanwhile, at a media conference on Thursday morning NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said there was currently no evidence to suggest restrictions needed to be changed in NSW.
"Apart from making sure we come forward and get tested," she said.
"Especially those border communities... especially if you're in a community that's welcomed tourists from Melbourne of Victoria in the last little while."
"I want people to know for the next two to three weeks in particular, all of us have to be on high alert."
She said now 125,000 permits had been issued for those seeking to cross the border, she believed border towns would suffer less congestion as people would be allowed through more freely.
