Mr Turland returned from an Italian holiday last week, and went into self-isolation with mild symptoms at his family home in the NSW Southern Highlands.

It all began with feeling a headache, a cough and Mr Turland feeling run down.

"I didn't go to the hospital to get tested. I got a digital referral [from a doctor], I didn't go in there," Mr Turland said.

"Then I went to a pathology lab and got tested but I called them beforehand."

Mr Turland said his nose was still "a little bit congested", while his cough and body aches had almost subsided.

He said he would aim for his first negative test at the end of the week on Thursday or Friday.

"I have to show two negative tests 24 hours apart to be completely released from isolation," he said.

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Mr Turland said he encouraged everyone to keep a level head.

"Everyone, please calm down. Just do your best," he said. "If you're showing symptoms, isolate and just be respectful of people around you, especially the elderly or anyone who's immune compromised.

"This illness for most people isn't going to be so bad ... we have to deal with the fact that it's going to be out in society. People will have to go through their recovery in an isolation process.

"We need to look at recent historical events to say with confidence, things will go back to normal - so everyone can just breathe easy a bit."