CENTRAL Victoria remains exposed to risk from COVID-19 despite having no active virus cases, Bendigo Health has warned.
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Bendigo Health has urged central Victorians to stay the course on restrictions despite fatigue.
Bendigo Health deputy chief medical officer Casey Nottage urged every central Victorian to be mindful of doing the right thing.
Dr Nottage said if regional Victoria reopened as it was now just one case could spark further spread.
She said restrictions couldn't remain forever, but caution was important.
"If the virus does get back into the community and we are mixing lots, and we are having lots of close social interactions, the potential for spread is higher versus now," she said.
"We do still have to be a bit cautious and move in a step-wise fashion towards reopening, rather than just taking a giant leap all at one go.
"Everything's a possibility. We cannot hand on heart say we have eradicated the virus, because we haven't."
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Dr Nottage said as the state opened up new cases of COVID-19 might pop up.
She testing numbers were critical to a safe move out of lockdown, as that was how health authorities could be confident that they had found all the cases.
Despite low numbers, Dr Nottage said it was vital to still get tested at even the slightest symptom, such as a sniffle or a cough, so any COVID-19 cases could be addressed early.
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