Hunter New England Health (HNEH) physician Dr David Durrheim called for people in the district to be cautious about travelling to the city.

He said the coronavirus clusters being uncovered in Melbourne, combined with large numbers of COVID-19 cases with an unknown source, was concerning.

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Dr Durrheim said if someone must go to Melbourne for an urgent reason, they need to make sure they follow all the hygiene practices to prevent contracting the pandemic virus and bringing it home.

"If one has to go ... take every measure to prevent oneself from getting infected, and that includes keeping the distance and making sure you have as little contact with people in Melbourne as possible," he said.

HNEH are still screening people for the infection all over the health district, and Dr Durrheim said anyone with symptoms of a cold or flu, or respiratory symptoms, should seek out a test, especially after returning from a COVID-19 hotspot.

The New England North West is free of known active COVID-19 cases, and it's been more than two months since the Tamworth local government area recorded a new case.

With restrictions easing across the state, health professionals have asked locals to remain vigilant.

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