Friday morning's revelation that a woman had died in Albury hospital from the virus was terrible news indeed.

The Murrumbidgee Local Health District said the woman, aged 74, had contracted the illness while overseas.

Even on the most conservative statistical formulae being applied, the mortality rate from COVID-19 would suggest this was inevitable.

But that does not make the woman's death any more palatable or easier to understand.

As a community, there are only two courses of action we can take.

Firstly, we can pass on our condolences to the family and friends of the woman who has died.

They have lost a loved one and their grief is something they have no choice but to bear.

And secondly, we have to continue to be vigilant with what we do to try whatever we can to stymie the ongoing spread of this relentless, ruthless, highly contagious virus.

Our empty streets and near-deserted shopping precincts certainly are testament to the fact that communities across the Border region are taking the threat at its highest level.

While we hear reports of people flouting the lock-down rules, thankfully these are in the absolute minority - such as the Wodonga man fined after crashing his car in Lavington while on his way to see his drug dealer.

This adherence to the absolute need to isolate is because we know what we must do, but also because of the considerable collateral damage this has inflicted on the lives of workers who have lost their jobs and business owners forced to shut their doors.

At least there has been some respite on the jobs front, with Woolworths' distribution hub at Barnawartha North creating an extra 120 positions to meet demand from the crisis.

This won't cover what's been lost, but at least it's something.

No loss though can ever match that of someone's death.

We will face this again so we must stay strong and fight this the best way we can.

And please, stay at home.