Ararat Rural City and East Grampians Health Services have implemented new structures to suit the restrictions.

A major change for Ararat Rural City was transitioning those staff who could work from home to do so.

"I've always been a work at home skeptic," chief executive Dr Tim Harrison said.

"I've worked in places before where working from home is a pretty normal activity. I saw it as an excuse for people's productivity levels.

"But I've seen during this time with a range of people working from home productivity has been really good."

Dr Harrison said some staff had adapted to the working from home transition "really well".

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"It's actually improved productivity to have the flexibility to work from home," he said.

"They've adapted to the use of technology and I think we've saved a lot of time through zoom calls rather than face to face meetings.

"I believe there is some learning there from those areas. Working from home suits some people very very well and some people I will be recommending them work from home a bit more because it suits the way their work.

"I've got to be honest, some people have struggled. Not everyone has thought it was fantastic."

Dr Harrison said the organisation had a decrease in sick leave since implementing the changes in the work place.

"I think it comes down to a couple of things," he said.

"During the COVID-19 restrictions people have been more committed to their job. They just want to get on with it and serve their community.

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"I also think the idea of those people who can work from home have the capacity can move a bit more autonomously around their work and is motivator."

East Grampians Health Service chief executive Andrew Freeman said while the organisation had always had excellent infection control and hand hygiene practices, COVID-19 has reinforced that good infection control and hand hygiene must be followed at all times.

"We currently conduct temperature checks and screening of anyone who enters the health service including staff, volunteers, patients and visitors," he said.

"There has been an increase in the amount of our daily cleaning across the health service and this will continue into the future.

"Social distancing is reinforced and the number of people allowed in rooms across the health service is limited.

"Meetings have been conducted via video conferencing."

Mr Freeman said it was interesting to see a decline in the number of sick days taken versus this time last year from the workforce.

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