News of a Melbourne visitor testing positive to COVID-19 in Portland on Wednesday was met with anger from social media users, who posted comments such as "fine them" and "stay in your own yards".

Portland District Health chief executive Chris Giles said the woman who returned the positive test was in town for a legitimate reason that fell within the four rules to leave the hot-spot areas.

She said online vitriol was "counterproductive" to the health and safety of the community.

"I understand everyone is concerned, everyone is fearful, but people are feeling the weight of the community trying to find someone to blame.

"It's counterproductive because people with symptoms instead of coming forward are hiding away hoping it will go away.

"If other people who are feeling unwell don't get tested because they see the amount of villification going on it's not helpful.

"I know everyone is fearful and no-one wants it but this is the chance of locking it down, but it won't happen with all this going on."

Ms Giles said of the more than 2600 tests conducted in Portland not a single positive case has been found.

She asked that people wait to be contacted with their results after being tested.

"Portland hasn't seen any community transmission at all, that shows people are doing the right thing."

Reaction to The Standard's reporting of the positive case in Portland was met with a range of responses:

Speaking with The Standard earlier this month, honorary professor in Rural Health at the Deakin Warrnambool campus James Dunbar said disinformation on social media was one of the biggest threats to safety during the pandemic.

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