VICTORIANS are beginning their fifth COVID lockdown as people north of the border wait nervously to discover if the coronavirus has spread from Jindera's service station.
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The measure is due to end at 11.59pm on Tuesday with Mr Andrews cryptically referencing his Wangaratta upbringing in acknowledging frustration at the move.
"Having grown up in a regional community a long way away from Melbourne I know and understand how frustrating it is for people who...don't have cases and don't have exposure sites to be locked down," Mr Andrews said.
"We will release those parts of regional Victoria that it is safe to release before next Tuesday if it is safe to do so."
The Premier's move has annoyed Wodonga MPs.
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Victorian Upper House representative Tim Quilty said it was an overreaction which would damage people's mental health.
"Businesses and communities across the state will be tearing their hair out over this latest disruption," Mr Quilty said.
North East Victoria's federal MP Helen Haines took hope from Mr Andrews' country carrot.
"Another lockdown for all of Victoria is tough news," Dr Haines said.
The outcome of COVID swabs is front of mind for Jindera residents and visitors who descended on testing sites on Thursday after removalists stopped at the town's Shell fuel station last Saturday morning.
Greater Hume Shire councillor Jenny O'Neill said 140 patients provided samples at a pop-up clinic which ran at the Jindera Sportsground from 2pm to 4pm on Thursday.
Motorists had begun lining up from 1.10pm for the drive-through site, such was their willingness to do the right thing by their community.
The pop-up clinic will run again on Friday from 9am to 3pm.
Cr O'Neill said there was an air of wariness among Jindera townsfolk.
"People are being cautious and I think they have found everyone (who was at the service station) and let's hope they all come back with negative tests," she said.
Parents received text messages at 1.30pm to collect their children early after it was discovered two students had been in Melbourne at a COVID exposure site at the weekend.
It is believed they were at the Carlton-Geelong football match where the virus has been found.
Director of education in the Catholic diocese Paul Desmond in consultation with St Monica's principal Jacqui Partington decided as a precaution to abruptly halt classes.
By mid-afternoon news was received that the students had produced negative COVID results and a further text was sent shortly after 3pm to 380 parents to state the school would re-open on Friday.
Alas Mr Andrews then announced the lockdown shortly before 5pm and lessons shifted from the classroom to screens for students from Friday.
Mr Desmond said that he had no regrets about his response.
"If I had the same situation arise tomorrow, for the safety of the children I would do it again," he said.
Mr Tilley praised the school community for its effort.
"What an incredible response from St Monica's, its staff, students and the parents," Mr Tilley said.
"Just as we did in previous lockdowns in this pandemic, our community has proven up to the challenge and ready to respond."
The St Monica's situation also resulted in a class being cutting short for Charles Sturt University teaching students at Albury on Thursday afternoon.
Two of the undergraduates were ordered home because they had worked at the Wodonga school as part of their course activities.
