Despite the increase in COVID-19 cases, a regional lockdown can still be avoided if everyone follows the rules to keep themselves and others safe, leaders say.
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Last week, Premier Daniel Andrews said the state government's new regional contact tracing teams will be key to avoiding more restrictions - a team will be based in Ballarat.
"Their local knowledge and being part of that community means they'll be more effective," he said.
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"It's a sense of control, low numbers, an effective public health response - localisation is really important now."
He added he had not "ruled out the notion of opening up further", for example, expanding the number of people allowed per square metre in hospitality venues, but "unless we have low, steady numbers, and confidence we're tracking and tracing every positive case, we won't be able to open up".
"Regional Victorians should not think there is a set of stage three rules coming next week or anything like that while we keep these numbers low, the Chief Health Officer has confidence it's working, but every regional Victorian has a part to play in that."
That's echoed by the Committee for Ballarat's chief executive Michael Poulton, who said Ballarat residents need to "double down" on their efforts.
"Avoiding the worst of the impacts so far has not been achieved through luck," he said.
"We have avoided the devastation because for the most part we have been prepared, we have complied and we have been acutely aware of the consequences if we had not."
Measures like keeping a physical distance from others, wearing a mask when you're unable to do so, and washing your hands are simple ways to do your part.
"If we all take individual responsibility for doing what we know is required, we can avoid further restrictions and protect the health and wellbeing of our community," he said.
"If we do this, we can continue to shop locally, support our local community, support our traders and cocoon ourselves from the most severe impacts of the spread of the disease.
"It's time again that we do this together and if we do, we will beat this spread and recover with our health, our wellbeing and our economy ready to once again thrive."
Commerce Ballarat chief executive Jodie Gillett said these safety measures are crucial, as any future lockdown, or increase in restrictions, would lead to more unemployment.
"The majority of people are doing the right thing, but I know that our businesses, our members, are telling us they're dealing with people who don't want to give a name (for contact tracing) or do what needs to be done," she said.
"They're not asking you to do this to be difficult, it's to keep you safe and for them to stay open and keep people employed."
This week, the state government announced measures to assist workers who need to isolate after getting tested - Ms Gillett said that will especially help casual workers.
"If you are unwell, please isolate, or if you do have a test, isolate until you have the results," she said.
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"I encourage employers to make sure your team and staff know that they can do that - they can stay away, or work from home - they're only doing that to keep the rest of the team safe.
"There's no reason not to."
A host of resources for businesses, including help for payroll and mental health issues, are available on the Commerce Ballarat website.
More information on the coronavirus, including the current rules in regional areas, is available on the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services website.
