Wimmera residents are again being urged to stay at home and isolate as much as possible after a third case of coronavirus COVID-19 was recorded in the region.
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In Stawell, resident of 25 years Debbie Phillips said she's never seen the town's streets so quiet, and believes people in her community are doing their part to help slow the spread of the deadly virus.
Ms Phillips, 60, has been self-isolating as much as possible for two weeks, dropping her volunteer shifts at the town's non-profit Bookworm Gallery and only venturing out for essentials.
She said residents in the Wimmera may not have taken the pandemic seriously to begin with, but that has since changed.
"We've felt quite isolated from what has been happening in the cities," she said.
"Now there's two cases confirmed in Northern Grampians. We knew that was probably going to happen but still overall we're doing pretty well.
"Early on I think we were still a bit too casual and not too serious about it, but everyone's gotten serious about it recently.
"I think everyone's doing their part and doing what they can."
Ms Phillips said her way of remaining positive while stuck at home was to keep busy.
"Try to work out something positive you can do at home," she said.
"If you've got a family, then they can have that time together too, which is a plus."
On her part, Ms Phillips has been busying herself in the garden and, with a granddaughter due in five weeks, knitting.
"Just try to maintain your contacts through your phone," she said.
"That's probably the best thing to do to not become really isolated."
