Speaking at Tuesday night's council meeting, chief executive Brendan McGrath would not yet commit to measures to help the community, such as waiving the city's parking fees.

"We anticipate this pandemic will have a significant financial impact on both the broader community, but also on this organisation," he said.

"As a team, we're currently reviewing what that impact is, or is likely to be forecast, on this organisation so I wouldn't be committing to any particular action until we've done that review and understand what the impacts are likely to be."

The message from mayor Dean Rees was to be kind and help others where you can.

"We hope that we come out on the good side of things quickly and the loss of life is minimal. Our most valuable asset in Wangaratta isn't our swimming pool and it's not our roads and it's not our CBD, it's our people," he said.

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"This is a bad time for us all here and we are all struggling in certain portions so I want to implore to everyone to please look after your family, look after your neighbours, look after your elderly parents - as I do have.

"Anything you can possibly do please do it for them, like if you need to shop for them. They are our most vulnerable."

Cr Ashlee Fitzpatrick urged people to be strong, saying "I believe together we can get through this".

"I would also like to acknowledge the businesses in our community struggling, adapting and working their hearts out to remain afloat under this demanding circumstances," she said,

"This month we have seen dramatic changes to our community due to COVID-19. I cannot stress enough the need to be more aware of our social distancing.

"I cannot stress enough the need to be more cautious of the pressures that this peak virus will put on our health services."