Benalla has been placed on high alert following a coronavirus scare at one of the city's aged care facilities.
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Late on Thursday, family members with residents in the Royal Freemasons retirement home were contacted about a staff member being a close contact of someone who has tested positive posted to COVID-19.
The staff member and two others who worked with her have undergone testing and are self-isolating pending the results of those testing
In a precautionary step, the facility implemented its "outbreak management plan" which includes other staff wearing PPE including gowns, gloves and masks in the areas of the home where the staff member worked and residents in this area being cared for within their rooms.
Visitors to the home were stopped immediately.
Benalla has had no coronavirus cases since the beginning of the pandemic, but the city's mayor Danny Claridge said the community remained on edge due to worsening situation in Melbourne and Geelong areas.
"All the proper protocols are in place and we'll just keep our fingers crossed that it's not a positive case," he said.
"There was a case early on, but it was someone who had a Benalla postcode and were tested somewhere else.
"This one is concerning because the staff member has been in contact with someone who is postive."
Cr Claridge said Benalla was well prepared for a coronavirus outbreak with residents on edge about unconfirmed reports of Melburnians from lockdown areas being in the North-East city.
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The council formed a pandemic sub-committee made up of representatives from Benalla Health, police, ambulance and local GPs.
"We'e got a really strong unit in the event something does happen," he said.
"But everyone is getting a lot more concerned than what they were.
"Mainly because there is lots of traffic and rumours of people coming up from Melbourne and workers supposedly going back to Melbourne and then coming back here."
A Royal Freemasons spokesman expected the test results to be known over the weekend and declined to comment further.
But the message circulated to family members late this week from chief operations officer Tanya Connor said: "Please note we have not received notification of a positive test from any staff members, and no residents or staff have signs or symptoms of COVID-19.
"This is purely a precautionary measure and we are thankful for the advance notification by our staff member of the potential risk.
"We will provide an update to you as soon as we receive the test results from this staff member.
"I appreciate that this may be worrying news for you and your loved one but rest assured that we are doing everything possible to keep the people we love and care for healthy and well.
"We thank you for your co-operation and for your support of our arrangements to protect our residents."
In neighbouring Greater Shepparton council area there is one active coronavirus case, a young person in the Berry Street residential care program.
"We are taking this matter very seriously, and have enacted our COVID-19 response plan" Berry Street chief executive Michael Perusco said.
"The young person is receiving the care that they need and is isolated from others at this time.
"The premises where the young person has resided has been deep cleaned."