Wangaratta mayor Dean Rees has thanked residents for their willingness to get tested after a COVID-positive delivery driver made various stops in the town this week.
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A host of Wangaratta businesses closed their doors, including Treats Coffee Shop, sent staff for tests and isolated after there had been casual exposure across various sites in the town.
The Coles Express service station on Parfitt Road was confirmed as a tier two exposure site on Saturday morning, but it hasn't resulted in any positive cases thus far.
"For the slight scare that we had, numerous businesses shut down because they believe that person come to their business in relation to dropping off stock, with no great contact with any of the staff," Cr Rees said.
"It's a huge credit to the businesses that decided to shut down, have a clean and make sure their staff were tested, which is fantastic.
"To hear the Shell service station on Parfitt Road is now a tier two exposure site always puts it in your mind that we've got to be vigilant and keep fighting to make sure everything is okay.
"It's a wake up call that it can get to Wangaratta, like it did to Shepparton. Shepparton did a fantastic job and I think Wangaratta people will do an even better job if it does get here and we've got known cases.
"I drove past the testing clinic a couple of times on Friday and it was absolutely flat out, so it just goes to show Wangaratta people want to know if they've got it and want to isolate and make sure they do the right thing."
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Cr Rees admitted the service station exposure provided added concern and stressed anyone who may have been to the site in recent days to get tested.
"We've had the two positive samples in our sewer system over the last week, but there's still no confirmed cases," he said.
"DHHS were in touch with council this morning to tell them about the tier two exposure, but that's all there's been.
"I just stress for anyone who feels they might be subject to it to go and get tested and ease that concern.
"A big thanks to everyone in Wangaratta who has done the right thing. It's been fantastic to see that we've all pulled together."
Meanwhile, Victorian health department deputy secretary Kate Matson urged North East residents, particularly in Wodonga, to keep movement across the border to a minimum after a third case in Albury was announced on Saturday morning.
"Where you can, seek your supplies on this side of the border, we do encourage you to do so," she said.
"We'd like to keep Wodonga as safe as possible."
Of the 535 new cases recorded in Victoria, 15 were in regional areas and one death was a woman in her 70s from the Greater Shepparton area.
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