More restrictions will be lifted in Victoria from Monday, but some industry bodies say they should be lifted faster in regional areas.
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Those who can work from home must continue doing so for now, according to Victorian premier Daniel Andrews.
But the Australian Industry Group's Victorian head, Tim Piper, said circumstances on Sturt Street and Flinders Street are completely different.
He said maintaining social distancing is important to protect workers' health, and did not question that aspect, but he said requirements in the city, compared to Ballarat, are different.
Public transport and high rise buildings are examples of the difference, he said.
"About 8 or 900,000 people travel to Melbourne's CBD for work every day - that doesn't happen in regional areas, or suburban areas," he said.
"Social distancing on public transport doesn't affect (people who live regionally) in the same way."
He said many companies had been proactive in organising new ways to work, but remained hamstrung in actually getting people back into the office.
"They've already put in social distancing requirements, and I've had companies who wanted to be at work two weeks ago, where they'd developed social distancing procedures and they couldn't do it," he said.
"To get regional Victoria back operating, at any level, we need to be doing it quickly, and we need to be doing it now, so we're calling on the Victorian government to reconsider its current restrictions, and relax them for regional and suburban areas.
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"I think you could do it by local council areas - some would enable it to happen and some can't."
A spokesman for the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services said the restrictions will be maintained across the state.
"We know these restrictions have been difficult for a lot of businesses and families, especially those in regional Victoria who have lost valuable tourism dollars on top of a tragic bushfire season and ongoing drought," they said in a statement.
"Unlike some other states, Victoria is compact and we see high levels of movement across the state with people going about their daily lives. 239 regional Victorians have had coronavirus, and there are still active cases in a number of regional areas.
"While rates of transmission are low in Victoria generally, and especially in regional areas, we're not out of the woods yet, and we must remain vigilant."
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They added everyone should keep public health recommendations in mind at all times.
"As restrictions are eased and Victorians are able to do a wider range of the activities, our message is to stay safe while you get on with life," they said.
"Every Victorian can help stop the spread of coronavirus by taking the following actions:
- If you can work from home, you should work from home
- Stay home when unwell - if you have symptoms, get tested
- Wash your hands - and cough and sneeze into your elbow
- Keep your distance - 1.5 metres away from anyone you don't live with
"Some activities are still restricted - make sure you stay up to date with the current restrictions."
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