Personal injury law firm Carbone Lawyers have launched legal action in Victoria's Supreme Court against Heritage Care Pty Ltd, the parent company of Epping Gardens.

There have been 205 coronavirus cases to come out of the centre in Melbourne's northwest, with 177 residents and staff infected.

More than 20 infected residents are believed to have died including 92-year-old Carmela Agnello, whose son Sebastian Agnello is leading the civil claim on behalf of about 25 families.

In the writ filed on Monday, Mr Agnello claims the home breached its duty of care by permitting staff and residents to not wear personal protective equipment and move freely within the home, risking the spread of COVID-19.

He also alleges aged-care staff from other centres were allowed into the home without self-isolating, while a baby shower on July 16 and a birthday party two days later were permitted despite access being restricted to essential workers and residents.

Tony Carbone, managing partner of Carbone Lawyers, said government authorities could be tacked on to the lawsuit if it comes to light they knew of the centre's problems.

"It could go beyond the home," he told AAP on Tuesday.

"The home's treatment was very poor. I'm not going to mince my words, it was pretty bloody disgusting, disgraceful delivery of services caring for these vulnerable elderly people.

"I don't mean the government in that but if it comes out that the government was aware that the place was a joke ... well, if that's the case wouldn't they step in there and do something?"

ABC's Four Corners revealed Epping Gardens' "increasingly desperate" calls to Victoria's Department of Health and Human Services, the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission and state and federal governments went unanswered.

The program suggested there was a six-day delay from the first confirmed case and tests being processed for all other residents.

Aged care minister Richard Colbeck said the DHHS was responsible for COVID-19 testing despite the facility being told to use the federal government's preferred testing provider.

Although unaware of Mr Colbeck's comments, Premier Daniel Andrews denied his health department had dropped the ball.

"I would not accept there was not surge capacity and every effort made to provide care and support to residents who ... have absolutely nothing to do with the public health system," he told reporters on Tuesday.

Mr Carbone said the alleged baby shower and party breaches were "absolutely disgraceful" and his clients were left distressed in the knowledge they sent their loved-ones to Epping Gardens.

"They weren't doing the bare minimum."

Mr Carbone has spoken to the son of a COVID-positive man who allegedly was left to sleep on the ground on a mat without blankets covering his feet.

That resident died last Thursday, Mr Carbone said, and most of those attached to the lawsuit have lost relatives.

He said it was too early to put a dollar figure the group would be seeking as each claim would need to be individually assessed.

Heritage Care, which operates nine aged-care facilities in Sydney and Melbourne, was contacted for comment.

Australian Associated Press