However, a tourism expert doesn't believe the diagnosis will affect visitation to Bright which experienced a significant boost over the long weekend.

The Department of Health and Human Services said a resident of Hawthorn Village at Bright had tested positive to COVID-19 and was isolating in a Melbourne hospital after being transferred for an unrelated health matter.

An investigation into the source of the infection is ongoing and contact tracing is under way.

Alpine Health confirmed yesterday that no other residents or staff currently had symptoms but all were being screened daily.

Hawthorn Village had a strict visitation policy in place, preventing people with temperatures or those recently returned from overseas from entering.

All residents, about 25 people, have been restricted to their rooms, with staff and residents identified as close contacts quarantined.

IN OTHER NEWS:

In a statement Alpine Health said residential care facilities were "particularly susceptible" to outbreaks.

"Even when facilities actively try to prevent outbreaks occurring, illness in the wider community may lead to residents or staff contracting COVID-19 and further transmission occurring," Alpine Health said.

The announcement coincided with an influx of visitors to the town, but Tourism North East's Bess Nolan-Cook said she did not think the positive result would affect visitation.

Ms Nolan-Cook was confident authorities were controlling the situation but said residents and visitors must remain cautious.

"It highlights the needs for us all to continue to play it safe," she said.

"We all have the responsibility to play by the rules and that includes social distancing and washing our hands.

"I think we need to be cautiously optimistic, but as everyone moves around it's really important that we don't forget we need to take the right precautions to avoid any outbreaks."

A health department spokesman did not clarify whether the patient was diagnosed in Melbourne or Bright but said Hawthorn Village was being deep cleaned.

He said the department was ensuring all appropriate actions were under way to keep the Bright community safe and minimise the risk of further infection.

Our COVID-19 articles relating to Border health and safety are free for anyone to access. However, we depend on subscription revenue to support our journalism. If you are able, please subscribe here. If you are already a subscriber, thank you for your support.