The organisation has been assessing the outbreak around the clock and are concerned both by the alarming levels of spread and severity.

East Grampians Health Service medical services director Dr Sophie Ping said the health service continued to prepare for the expected announcement of a COVID-19 pandemic, and was having daily meetings to update our planning and preparation.

Free telehealth services and pop-up testing clinics will be set up as part of the federal government's $2.4 billion health response to the coronavirus outbreak.

"It is unlikely that one of the pop-up clinics announced by the government will be established in Ararat, but we are in regular contact with the Department of Health and Human Services regarding our ability to support the community and capacity to provide additional services if required," she said.

"We are working closely with the Ararat Medical Centre to provide consistent and streamlined advice and pathways for patients, residents and community members to manage concerns about infection and transmission of COVID-19.

"We strongly encourage anyone who is at risk of infection and showing symptoms of COVID-19 to telephone the Medical Clinic or Urgent Care Centre before presenting, so that we can arrange for you to be assessed in a safe environment that limits the risk of infecting other people."

Dr Ping said she strongly encourage people to continue taking care with their personal hygiene and avoid putting the community at risk.

"For the most up to date information regarding COVD-19, please visit the DHHS website regularly," she said.

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A whole-of-community approach to how Stawell will react to a COVID-19 pandemic outbreak will be discussed by town leaders at meeting on Friday.

Stawell's leaders will map out how to stop the spread of the virus, support people isolated on their own at home if quarantined and the safest methods of testing and on-going care.

Stawell Regional Health chief executive Kate Pryde said while the meeting with community leaders was a standard process in this situation, the region had started discussions earlier rather than wait to be told. Ms Pryde said the best advice was through the helpline on 1800 675 398.

Wimmera Health Care Group's medical services Dr John Christie said the health service had activated internal control plans to deal with coronavirus and were continuously modifying them as more information came to hand.

"There has already been a great deal of discussion and planning among department heads and clinical managers and medical teams and we are as prepared as we possibly can be at this stage," he said.

"Our main message to the public is still to wash your hands regularly and thoroughly and our infection control team has made a video to demonstrate the best way to wash your hands.

"The video is posted on our WHCG Facebook page and on is linked to our webpage."

Mr Christie said as soon as there was a need for testing community members, a testing station would be put in place.

From Friday doctors will be able to bulk-bill hook ups with GPs to diagnose coronavirus symptoms.

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The state control centre was activated to oversee and coordinate Victoria's response to the spread of coronavirus, as another Victorian tested positive for the virus on Wednesday.

"Coronavirus will impact the entire Victorian community from business and schools - and that's why a whole-of-government response is needed as we ramp up our response to this emerging pandemic," Premier Daniel Andrews said.

The COVID-19 pandemic is tipped to have significant impacts across the economy and across the state, including schools, businesses, and places of mass gatherings, such as sporting and cultural events.

In a statement released by the Victorian Government it states making the state control centre the focal point to the response would help agencies better collaborate and ensure key intelligence, mapping, planning, logistics, and public information resources were available as and when they are needed.

"EMV will work closely with health authorities, other government agencies, businesses, and the wider community to prepare for and respond to the likely pandemic," it read.

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"Seven screening clinics are now open across the city at Royal Melbourne Hospital, Alfred Hospital, Austin Hospital, Box Hill Hospital, Monash Clayton, Northern Hospital and Sunshine Hospital.

"This builds on the launch of the COVID-19 Pandemic Plan for the Victorian Health Sector which outlines actions we are taking to slow the spread of the virus in the community, manage demand on hospital resources, respond to a severe outbreak and recover as quickly as possible."

There are currently 21 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Victoria, eight of which are recovered, one in hospital and the rest are recovering in isolation at home.

If you are concerned, call the coronavirus Hotline on 1800 675 398. For more information, visit dhhs.vic.gov.au/novelcoronavirus.

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