On Monday morning, the committee made the decision to shut down Belfast Aquatics in line with a state government decree to close indoor sporting venues.

This was one of a range of items on a list aimed at slowing the spread of the virus.

The closure, in place until further notice, has not only left Port Fairy without a pool but the 21 employees, mostly casual, of the community facility temporarily out of work.

Belfast Aquatics secretary Martina Murrihy said the decision was a tough, but necessary one.

"Like a lot of other places we have been guided by the calls by the government," Mrs Murrihy said.

"We had a staff meeting this morning and we spoke about the situation.

"When all this is done, we want our staff to return, we can't run without them.

"For now though we have no choice but to close down."

Belfast Aquatics runs pool and gym classes, with Moyne Health Services and schools from Koroit and Port Fairy among the community organisations that use the facility.

Belfast Aquatics president Anne McIlroy said while the closure was a blow, the committee was looking to find positives from the situation.

"We have had a good start to the year, our general store stall at the folk festival was very successful and we have just installed air control in the pool deck area which was a $121,000 project," Mrs McIlroy said.

"We will use the time we are shut to do some maintenance work that has needed to be done."