While serious cold and flu cases should be called ahead to a general practitioner, or the national coronavirus helpline, there is a cloud of uncertainty for those just feeling a little under the weather and without reason to believe it might be COVID-19.

UFS chief pharmacist Peter Fell suggests calling ahead if unsure whether to pop into a pharmacy like you normally might for products to prevent your condition worsening.

Calling ahead is also backed up by other major pharmacy chains in the region.

Mr Fell said pharmacies had measures in place to ensure no-one feeling unwell was overlooked.

Store procedures had been slightly relaxed in UFS stores across the region, allowing people inside to access core health products, so you could send someone in to get products for you.

UFS still has a concierge on the door to screen customers, including asking whether a customer might have any other respiratory tract infection. While the customer is not to enter the store, they pharmacy can collect products needed - tissues, lozenges, vitamins or basic cold medications - and there are systems to pay via the phone or a mobile EFTPOS machine. Home delivery service is also available.

This comes with figures showing reportable cases of influenze in Ballarat have dropped to 33, according tto the Victorian Health Department, compared to 50 by the same time last year.

COVID-19 is a respiratory illness and the main signs of the virus are fever, cough, sore throat and a shortness of breath, according to Australia's Health Department.

Initial symptoms of COVID-19 are similar to a cold, especially mild cases of COVID-19. It is uncommon to develop a fever if you have a cold.

Influenza and COVID-19 have similar symptoms but the incubation for the flu is much shorter, about two days.

The Victorian Health Department has expanded COVID-19 testing criteria this past week to anyone experiencing fever, chills, a sore throat, cough, fatigue or shortness of breath.

Testing involves a throat and nose swab test and is available via Ballarat Health Services' Sebastopol site (the public dental clinic) or the UFS-led site at Lucas Community Hub by appointment.

Victorian Health Minister Jenny Mikakos has been encouraging people to get an earlier-than-usual season influenza vaccination to better prevent people from contracting the flu and being exposed to COVID-19.

Minister Mikakos this month announced Victorian pharmacists could administer approved vaccines through mobile and outreach services. This includes the flu shot to children as young as 10 in a bid to help take pressure off general practitioners' clinics.

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