On Tuesday, he and Deputy Mayor Peter Walker and council management attended a meeting of the Local Emergency Operations Management committee.

The Southern NSW Local Health District (SNSWLHD) is leading the response but other committee members include police, ambulance, the council, RFS, NSW Fire and Rescue, Corrective Services and other agencies.

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Cr Kirk said each service detailed their planning and the issues they were facing as a result of the pandemic.

"The SNSWLHD detailed everything they're doing at the hospital and in the community and we'll be guided by them. They're a critical player," he said.

This includes additional intensive care beds and limiting visitor access to one person at a time. Goulburn Base Hospital has also set up a testing clinic.

"Each service knows what they're doing, just as they did in the bushfire emergency," the Mayor told The Post.

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"It's reassuring that here we are, just months after I got all the members of this committee up on stage at Australia Day, that we have this group, under the control of SNSWLHD, getting together to implement the necessary changes.

"I'm assured that all emergency services people are on top of and ahead of the game, following department directions and wanting the community to do all the things it should."

The Mayor said people might have to pull together more to support services like Meals on Wheels, which involved delivery to a susceptible age group.

Council management is meeting regularly on its response. On Monday, several facilities, including the art gallery, aquatic centre and visitors information centre, were closed.

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A councillor briefing session on Tuesday night was solely devoted to the response. Cr Kirk said the council would provide "responsible leadership" on a "constantly evolving situation."

"I think all the authorities and businesses in town are acting very responsibly and that's very reassuring for people," he said.

"But when it gets down to social interaction, that's where people need to follow directions and I'm sure they will. All we can do is rely on the community to act responsibly and I'm confident we'll come out the other side."

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