In all five COVID-19 shutdowns in Victoria, the Andrews Labor government has included regional areas even though the main cause for virus concern is parts of Melbourne.

Mr Andrews said, when announcing the latest lockdown, he would release parts of regional Victoria if safe to do so, but the emergence of cases at Mildura, has put paid to an early escape for areas like the North-East.

"The easiest thing is for a whole lot of people on the other side of politics to make pretty cheap points about this," he said.

"I don't want a situation where for the sake of being popular for a short period of time you let it run in a regional community, only to have situation when Melbourne is coming right down and reopen, but you can't because we've got a problem in many different parts of regional Victoria."

A household contact of the Mildura case has also tested positive to COVID-19 since the weekend.

The initial case at Mildura was a man in his 30s, who attended the Cartlon-Geelong match at the MCG on July 10.

Regional NSW has remained open despite ongoing coronavirus dramas in Sydney.

RELATED COVERAGE

The latest Victorian lockdown won't be ending after five days with confirmation of the extension length to be revealed on Tuesday.

Wodonga-based Victorian Upper House MP Tim Quilty doubled down on his opposition to the Premier's approach on lockdowns.

"We are all locked down in Victoria, while over the border, regional NSW has only locked down specific, relevant areas," he said.

"Mr Andrews is desperate to show his tough lockdown approach is needed, but there is really no evidence to support that in regional Victoria.

"The treatment of smashing the whole state repeatedly with a sledgehammer may stop the COVID spread, but they're going to kill the patient in the process.

"I wish the Premier could listen to the voices of those who are finding it difficult to carry on.

"This open-ended lockdown will break those already struggling."

Mr Andrews said his hardline strategy had served the state well.

"We started with cases in Barwon Heads, Ballan, Bacchus Marsh, we then had cases at Phillip Island, had a case up at Mildura, and we have many, many exposure sites and many people who are close contacts," he said.

"If I could release parts of regional Victoria, if I got advice to do that, we would absolutely do that."

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: