Tallangatta is one of many outlying towns not in the border bubble and it has divided opinions.
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While some have labelled it "unnecessary", others are finding positives to take from the strict new measures.
Resident Angie Ashcroft said the exclusion of Tallangatta from the blue zone was "making it hard for everybody", especially the smaller towns that might rely on access to essential services in the bigger centres.
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"I know some of the locals are really angry about this," Mrs Ashcroft said.
"It should have stayed the way it was (50-kilometre radius around border)."
However, the town's newsagency has received an unexpected boost in customers, which has been a pleasant surprise for owner Norm Crisp.
"I won't say we're breaking any huge records, but usually this time of year we can go two or three hours without a customer," he said.
"People have got to stick together and support each other to try and get everybody back on an even keel.
"I'm 70 next month and I've done my time, but it could be an exciting time for a small business if people support them."
However, Mr Crisp's biggest concern was when he needed to travel to Albury to undergo his next round of chemotherapy.
"We'll have to leave three quarters of an hour early," he said.