Ambulance staff are asking four extra questions before entering homes to keep them safe.

Zone manager Superintendent Liesa Huggins said some had copped verbal abuse when asking the questions, which include whether anyone has been overseas recently or had contact with a COVID-19 patient.

"It just forms part of their initial assessment and won't slow down their response at all," she said.

"We're just asking the community for a little bit of patience as we approach and we're asking them to be honest in their answers.

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"I think when people get anxious and frustrated they pick up their tone and paramedics don't need that added level of stress in their life when they've already got one in the time of COVID-19."

Superintendent Huggins said the abuse hadn't been physical and was confined to a small number of people.

Fines of $5000 were introduced in NSW earlier this month for anyone who coughs and spits at frontline workers.

Albury police Superintendent Paul Smith said people could also be charged with other offences, but said local officers hadn't been coughed on or spat at.

"People are out there, doing their best, doing their job, and we should respect them in doing that," he said.

"It doesn't matter if you're a police officer, a paramedic or a supermarket worker.

"You're there doing your job for the community and you should be respected for doing so."