NSW Health confirmed on Wednesday the Hay Shell, on the Sturt Highway, was visited by a confirmed case of the virus. The Gundagai Coles Express and Jindera Shell service station were also named as exposure sites.

Anyone who was at the Shell in Hay between 7.30am and 8.00am on Saturday was initially considered a casual contact.

However, late yesterday NSW Health upgraded its health advice for the Hay service station to state that anyone who visited at the time was now deemed a close contact who must immediately get tested and isolate for 14 days, regardless of the result.

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Those affected have also been told to call 1800 943 553 unless they have already been contacted by NSW Health.

The revised status of the potential exposure came after it was revealed staff at the site had returned negative COVID-19 tests.

"We would like to thank the Hay Hospital staff and Murrumbidgee Local Health for the quick turnaround in testing our staff and getting the results back to us this morning, the professional cleaning service [and] our staff for being so cooperative," the operators of the service station wrote on Facebook.

"As soon as Murrumbidgee Local Health informed us on Wednesday that these people had visited our site on Saturday morning for a total of 20 [minutes], to keep everyone safe we immediately closed our site, informed our staff to get tested, arranged for a professional cleaning service to thoroughly clean our premises and followed the protocols given to us by Murrumbidgee Local Health."

The fuel side of the service station reopened at noon yesterday, and the restaurant is set to reopen this morning.

The site was closed on Wednesday afternoon for deep cleaning, with operators asking the community of Hay "not to panic".

NSW Health is urging anyone who lives or works in the areas to get tested immediately if any flu-like symptoms arise.

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