Exemption may be granted to allow community to grieve loss of Cooper Onyett

"Skye, her husband and Jett were the first people on my mind this morning," she said.

"I've been working with them to try and get an exemption. The pressure has been applied. Now it's up to the Acting Premier James Merlino to understand this is a critical situation. The family needs to be able to grieve with family and friends around them."

Ms Britnell said she would be extremely disappointed if an exemption wasn't granted.

"If you can have professional footballers on a football field, which must equate to about 50 people, why couldn't you have - at the very least - 50 people at an outdoor funeral?

"I'll be very disappointed if the Acting Premier doesn't show empathy to this family."

EARLIER

AN exemption may be granted to allow the community to grieve the tragic loss of Cooper Onyett.

The eight-year-old Merrivale Primary School student drowned while on a school camp at Belfast Aquatics in Port Fairy.

Victoria is poised to enter a seven day circuit-breaker lockdown from midnight tonight after the state recorded 15 new cases overnight.

READ MORE: Victoria to enter seven day circuit-breaker lockdown

New restrictions mean funerals will be limited to a maximum of 10 people plus those running the service.

Cooper's funeral is due to be held tomorrow and Acting Premier James Merlino said the cap may be increased to allow more people to attend.

"This is a tragic case," he said.

"It is every parent's worst nightmare. Your kid is excited to go off to camp and then we have this tragic incident.

"What I can say - we have settings in terms of funerals, which is a maximum of 10, but I have already indicated and had a discussion with (Chief Health Officer) Professor (Brett) Sutton about it.

"I will ask the public health team to get in touch with the mum.

"That would be a decision of public health which is appropriate but we do have extenuating circumstances so I have asked the public health team to talk to the mother."

A GoFundMe page set up for his family has already raised more than $67,000, with one person donating $50,000.

"This GoFundMe has been set up to raise funds not only for any funeral expenses but to also support Cooper's mother Skye and his family in any way needed while they grieve the loss of their amazing little boy," a statement on the page reads.

"Any amount will help to show our thoughts and wishes are with Skye and her family at this tragic time."

Dozens of people passed on their condolences on The Standard's Facebook page.

"Sympathy to the little one's family and all involved," wrote on person.

"This is just so tragic - no words can describe how heartbreaking this is," wrote another.

Have you signed up to The Standard's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in the south-west.