Wangaratta mayor Dean Rees has cast doubt on virus traces detected in a sewerage test in his city.
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Cr Rees said on Friday morning he felt this information was incorrect.
"Our news last night was the Premier's made a mistake on that," he told 2AY.
"A couple of days ago it was positive, the second test then showed negative, the third test has been negative as well.
"So if the Premier is locking down all of the country areas because of misinformation by his staffers, well, it does pose a bit of a problem here."
Cr Rees said he felt for Melbourne residents but felt the lockdown shouldn't be extended to regional areas.
The Border Mail has contacted the Victorian government to confirm the status of the Wangaratta sewage test.
Victorian health authorities on Friday morning said six new local COVID-19 cases had been recorded in the 24 hours to midnight Thursday.
"The six new locally-acquired cases are all linked to previously reported cases and were not in quarantine during their infectious periods," the Department of Health and Human Services said.
Figures showed 18,901 vaccine doses were administered and 29,631 test results received.
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Mr Andrews said on Thursday the Wangaratta sewerage "has pinged, if you like, firstly positive, then it went negative and now it has gone positive again".
"We have some reason to believe there is COVID either in that community or has been in that community," he said.
COVID-19 fragments in wastewater were previously detected in the North-East in Benalla in November last year, but didn't lead to any confirmed cases.
North East Water is responsible for testing wastewater locally before samples are then forwarded to the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services.
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Police have arrested 15 people after hundreds of protesters rallied in Melbourne's CBD against Victoria's sixth coronavirus lockdown announced hours earlier by Premier Daniel Andrews.
Friday marks day one of the restrictions, with more than six million Victorians find themselves living under stay-at-home orders again, only 10 days after coming out of the last lockdown.
Victorians are under the same rules that applied during last month's lockdown, including the five reasons to leave home, the five-kilometre travel limit for exercise and shopping, and compulsory masks indoors and outdoors.
Protesters, some carrying placards and most not wearing masks, gathered at Flinders Street about 7pm on Thursday and moved into Swanston Street as police in masks gathered to try to disperse them.
- additional reporting JANINE GRAHAM
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