Mildura MP Ali Cupper says seeing residents come out of lockdown despite a COVID case in the town is proof that Victoria's handling of the pandemic has changed.
The Melbourne traveller's infection – Mildura's first since July – was confirmed on Wednesday at the same time it was announced that regional restrictions would be eased.
Ms Cupper said she understood the person was infectious in the community for two days and said lifting the lockdown with that information in had seemed "incongruent" at first.
"But we know it was the decision of the Chief Health Officer, and they look at each situation in a very specific case-by-case way," she said.
"The determination is that it's low-risk and that shouldn't get in the way of us reopening.
"The game has changed a little bit — the government has moved away from elimination and toward suppression, which allows a little bit more tolerance for risk.
"It certainly doesn't look like we're on the edge of a big cluster — the signs are still pointing toward the conclusion that we've dodged a big bullet.
Caution is the key
The person is believed to be isolating in Mildura and investigations into whether they travelled for a permitted reason are continuing.
The sole exposure site – designated as tier 2 – is Mildura's Dan Murphy's between 3:00pm and 3:35pm on Friday, September 3.
No COVID infections have been linked to the case.
The person also attended a vaccination clinic on Thursday, September 2, but the Department of Health and Human Services said the person was not infectious at the time and did not list the venue as an exposure site.
Mildura Base Hospital chief Terry Welch said it was "reassuring" Mildura was still released from lockdown because it suggested health officials had the situation under control.
But he said the community was not yet "out of the woods", and urged people to remain cautious.
"I'm delighted we're out of lockdown," Mr Welch said.
"That's why I'm asking everybody to work with us here — just because we're out of lockdown, don't be flippant about that release.
"It can spread quickly.
"Do the right thing with restrictions.
"If you're unwell, isolate, get tested — it's that same message that people are sick of hearing, but it's the truth.
