MILDURA Base Public Hospital (MBPH) has confirmed a "potentially significant number" of staff were exposed to a positive coronavirus case over the weekend and will be forced to isolate.
The news comes after a man presented at MBPH's emergency department last night and returned a positive COVID-19 test this morning.
Chief executive of MBPH Terry Welch said the hospital had deep-cleaned its emergency department and implemented "strict visitor criteria" in response to the case.
The Department of Health and Human Services is still assessing the number of staff affected today, with the hospital "planning for the potential of a significant effect on staffing", Mr Welch said.
"We're working with the contact tracing team and the public health unit to work out exactly who was considered to have had exposure, and we'll respond accordingly."
The Victorian Government's contact tracing team will be in touch with anyone who may have come into contact with the positive case at the hospital, Mr Welch said.
The hospital was in the process of assessing how to address potential staff shortages as exposed staff were forced into isolation.
"We are under a lot of strain with the staffing realities currently," he said.
The hospital was looking to address staff shortages internally over the next 72 hours, Mr Welch said, and would then "look at what support we need externally" with support from the State Government.
Mr Welch urged anyone who required emergency treatment not to avoid the emergency department.
"The facility is clean and we follow the guidelines to the letter in terms of deep cleaning."
But he asked "anyone who could avoid (the emergency department) or find an alternative mechanism for treatment in the coming period to certainly do so".
"We'll do everything we can to mitigate any effect felt by the community where we can," he said.
He urged everyone in Mildura with coronavirus symptoms to "be proactive... and get a test and isolate".
MBPH does not offer coronavirus testing and anyone experiencing symptoms should get tested at the drive-through facility at Mildura Recreation Reserve.
