Acting chief executive David Rosaia said the organisation has identified between 150 and 200 beds across the Loddon Mallee region for potential coronavirus patients should cases significantly rise.

"We're lucky at Bendigo with the brand new facility, to have the space," he said.

"In the Loddon Mallee region we have identified the bed capacity if we had a surge in COVID numbers.

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"Currently we have been able to manage whats been referred to Bendigo but I wouldn't doubt, if numbers got high, that Loddon Mallee has beds identified to be able to manage (more patients) if there was a significant surge in COVID cases.

"All services are prepared and we have identified 150 to 200 beds in the Loddon Mallee in the event of a surge, that's a high number of beds."

Mr Rosaia's comments came as Bendigo began vaccinating children aged five to 11 against coronavirus on Monday.

Speaking to media, Bendigo Health chair Bob Cameron confirmed two school-aged students were among the 20 COVID-positive patients admitted to Bendigo Health.

"We have 20 COVID patients and two are kids," Mr Cameron said.

"That makes you realise vaccination is the thing to do to be able to get on with life and continue to be open."

Mr Rosaia said caring for COVID-positive patients was part of the hospital's services.

"Currently we have 20 patients that are COVID positive," he said.

"That's a service we provide as a COVID-19 streaming service.

"It is interesting to see where patients are coming from. A large number are from Mildura but we are also seeing people from Swan Hill, Bendigo, Castlemaine and Gisborne.

Mr Rosaia said Bendigo Health's staffing levels were also being considered in the hospital's plans

"We do also need to consider the workforce," he said.

"A limiting factor through the state has been workforce and that's why the (health) department are so keen to update the Healthcare Worker Furlough guidelines.

"With changes made in the new year, there was a significant change made allowing staff who are contacts and asymptomatic to continue to work under strict guidelines including getting RAT test before their shift every day for five days and having to wear an N-95 mask.

"Depending on what type of contact staff are, they must also have meals in different areas, not travel in groups and isolate at home."

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Mr Rosaia said on average between 50 and 55 staff were being furloughed each day at Bendigo Health but the organisation was managing.

"We are managing to continue to staff the hospital and ensure the safety of everybody," he said.

"It is always a challenge with staffing. What we have done with the department is develop an alternate workforce to assist nurses and doctors. Allied health workers are playing a more important role on wards and we are looking at our student model to see how nurses in training can get into the system earlier.

"Even though the workforce is a pressure point, we know the systems are in place."

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