The Department of Health has issued COVID alerts in several Victoria towns, just as most of the state’s regional areas were taking their first steps out of lockdown.

Geelong, Lorne and Daylesford all had venues listed on the department’s exposure list, which has been tracking the state’s COVID-19 cases.

A medical clinic and a cafe in the spa town of Daylesford both confirmed on Friday that they are exposure sites after a positive case visited both venues.

Cliffy’s Emporium confirmed in a Facebook post that a staff member had tested positive for coronavirus after working there on September 7. The site was later officially added as a tier-1 site.

“We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience. We will share all relevant information as it becomes available,” the post said. “As you can imagine, it’s an awful situation for the staff member and the team to be in.”

Springs Medical Daylesford also posted a statement, saying it had become a tier-1 exposure site after a positive case visited the clinic.

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“We have been advised by the Department of Health that a positive COVID-19 case visited Springs Medical Daylesford 10 Hospital Street on Wednesday 8th September. We have closed our Daylesford clinic for deep cleaning,” it said.

Hepburn Shire mayor Lesley Hewitt said the council learned about the exposure sites late on Friday afternoon. She said contact tracing had already begun.