Victoria's Department of Health and Human Services linked an active case to Warrnambool this week, but would not provide information about where the case was acquired and the movements of the individual, citing privacy concerns.

But South West Coast MP Roma Britnell believed the department could offer more information without breaching the patient's confidentiality.

Warrnambool has had a further five coronavrius cases linked to the city since the the pandemic began, but the department provided more detail on those cases, explaining they were returned travellers.

"The silence is what is concerning people, they don't understand why we are getting nothing where in the past we were getting information," Ms Britnell said.

She called for Health Minister Jenny Mikakos to ensure the south-west received "clear and crucial information".

Ms Britnell said she was aware of people also being made to wait two days before securing an appointment to be tested in the region.

"The state government must work with centres in Warrnambool and Portland to ensure that they are sufficiently funded to provide timely access to testing," she said.

South-west residents took to The Standard's Facebook page on Monday to voice their concerns about the lack of information on the active case.

"Not knowing if it's local or overseas, I will be going back to online shopping until it's clearly safe. If it's local this person could of spread it everywhere," one person said.

"We don't need to know personal details, just the places the person has been that could have passed the virus to others," another said.

Warrnambool's Surfodesy owner Max Taylor said more information would prevent "unnecessary panic".

"Information about where the case has originated from would be helpful," he said.

Warrnambool's Capitol Cinema manager Greg Gent said the cinema was quiet over the weekend but it was difficult to say whether that was a direct result of the active case, the end of school holidays or existing restrictions.

"We are limited to 20 people per screening and we haven't got any new content so it feels super quiet anyway and that has been tough," he said.

"Over the weekend, word got around that there was a case in town and it was super quiet for us but it's hard to say if that is directly related."

Mr Gent said information about active coronavirus cases would help put the minds of customers at ease.

"I think public information is important to give people a better idea about where the outbreak was, to put their mind at ease and make them feel more comfortable about going out and into a business," he said.

A state government spokeswoman did not directly answer questions about why more case information wasn't released or whether resources were adequate for testing.

Instead she said warned against complacency around restrictions in regional Victoria.

"We thank those regional Victorians who are doing their part getting tested and following the rules to help slow the spread of this highly infectious and deadly virus," she said.

"It is critical that we all continue to follow the rules that apply where we live, and maintain physical distancing and good hand hygiene.

"Regardless of where you live, until there is a vaccine, there is no such thing as 'normal'.

"For every restriction that you break and all the health advice that you ignore - the consequence could be someone's life. Now more than ever, we need Victorians to play their part. Lives are counting on it."

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