THE Public Health Unit Bendigo has confirmed the person in Echuca identified as COVID-19 positive was a false positive test due to a rare laboratory error.
The person was re-tested today and returned a negative result, after initially testing positive on Thursday.
Close contacts of the person have all tested negative to COVID-19.
The person and those connected have all been cleared to return to the community.
Echuca Regional Health operates a COVID-19 screening clinic at its hospital, seven days a week, from 9.30am to 6pm, access via the Emergency Department on Service St.
Anyone with even the mildest of symptoms or concerns is encouraged to get tested.
Common symptoms include fever/chills, cough, shortness of breath or a sore throat, runny nose and loss of sense of smell or taste.