A New South Wales man been charged by police after allegedly chucking a sickie by telling his boss he caught COVID-19.

The Illawarra resident’s claim resulted in his colleagues being ordered into self-isolation.

The 23-year-old allegedly texted his boss on Monday morning, saying he had COVID-19 and could not attend work that day in Newcastle.

His colleagues were sent into self-isolation and forced to test for COVID-19, while several locations around his workplace were deep cleaned.

NSW Police said the man later on Monday sent a second text to his boss, saying he had tested again and returned a negative result.

However, the man had allegedly never received an initial positive test result.

He has been charged with conveying false information that a person or property is in danger.

He’ll appear at Wollongong Local Court in September.