Scott Morrison praises Shepparton's 'impressive' but not surprising handling of its COVID outbreak

Scott Morrison attended an online event to thank the Shepparton community. (Supplied: Facebook)

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has praised the Greater Shepparton community for containing the city's COVID outbreak.

Mr Morrison spoke to Shepparton community leaders yesterday during an online event.

Hosted by Federal Member for Nicholls Damian Drum, the meeting was a chance to thank volunteers and health workers for their hard work.

The Prime Minister said he was impressed – but not surprised – by the region's response.

"And how tailored it was. I'm not surprised there were heaps of volunteers, that's the Australian way.

"When the community is under threat, we see that."

Thousands were tested for COVID in the depths of Shepparton's current outbreak. (AAP: Daniel Pockett)

Community rallies to fight outbreak

The meeting also gave local leaders a chance to brief the Prime Minister on the struggles and challenges of the current outbreak.

It's been almost three weeks since the initial case was reported.

Over subsequent days, case numbers spiked and tens of thousands were thrust into isolation, largely due to numerous school exposure sites.

With up to a third of Shepparton's population in quarantine, staff shortages saw supermarkets struggle to deliver food to isolating households.

Local groups swooped in to help, including Shepparton Foodshare.

A Shepparton Foodshare volunteer loads food boxes for locals onto a truck. (Supplied: Facebook)

Board chair Jeremy Rensford, who attended yesterday's meeting, believed Mr Morrison's admiration of Shepparton's efforts was shared nationwide.

"It was just so impressive.

"Outsiders looking in could see that as well."

Mr Morrison praised the Greater Shepparton community during the virtual visit. (AAP: Lukas Coch)

Shepparton's resilience

Shepparton is now in a hopeful position, with the outbreak contained and case numbers gradually falling as more people become cleared cases.

Mr Morrison said the city's success was all due to the resilience of the community.

"You don't know where the next challenge is going to come from," he said.

"And in this case, it was an outbreak of COVID.

But the Prime Minister warned there was still "a long way to go" in the pandemic.

"It won't be too long before we're at 70 and 80 per cent [vaccination] and living with the virus and that will have its own challenges," he said.

"But I hear your story and I go, 'Shepp will be right. Shepp will be fine.'"

Tracking Australia's COVID-19 vaccine rollout (ABC News)