Melbourne's biggest universities are moving away from face-to-face learning in preparation for potential campus shutdowns, after Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews declared a state of emergency over the coronavirus pandemic.

Key points: The announcements came after Victoria declared a state of emergency in a bid to curb the coronavirus pandemic

The announcements came after Victoria declared a state of emergency in a bid to curb the coronavirus pandemic The declaration gives Victorian authorities additional powers to enforce a ban on large gatherings and self-isolation periods for those returning from overseas

The declaration gives Victorian authorities additional powers to enforce a ban on large gatherings and self-isolation periods for those returning from overseas The number of new COVID-19 cases in Victoria jumped by 14 overnight to 71

Swinburne, La Trobe, and Monash universities have announced that from Tuesday, all tutorials, workshops and practicals will be suspended until the end of the week so staff can prepare for online learning.

Lectures at La Trobe and Monash will be recorded and available online, while Swinburne University will pause lectures until next week.

Monash University said classes may continue online from next week or be delivered in an "intensive mode", and assessments and exams were being adapted to "a non-face-to-face format".

In an email to staff on Monday afternoon, the University of Melbourne announced it would cease all face-to-face lectures attended by more than 500 enrolled students from Tuesday.

All classes above 25 students will be "progressively" moved away from face-to-face delivery, while tutorials for small groups may continue in larger rooms to allow for social distancing, the email said.

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In a statement, La Trobe University said the coronavirus outbreak was posing "unprecedented challenges" for the university community.

"Events over the weekend and this morning have necessitated a rapid review of the University's response — in particular the ban on large scale events announced on Friday, compulsory self-isolation for all visitors to Australia announced yesterday, and the Premier's announcement of a State of Emergency this morning," the statement said.

La Trobe University said if it was forced to close its campuses, all fixed-term and continuing staff would be paid, while casual staff would be paid for up to four weeks, based on the work they would have performed if the campus was not shut down.

State of emergency closes galleries, museums, libraries

The announcements were made in the wake of Premier Daniel Andrews's declaration of a state of emergency Monday morning, in a bid to curb the coronavirus pandemic.

Victorian galleries, museums, libraries and some schools chose to close their doors after the Government announcement.

Mr Andrews said it was likely the state of emergency, which was imposed under the Public Health and Wellbeing Act and took effect from midday Monday, would be extended.

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Watch Duration: 1 minute 49 seconds 1 m 49 s Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews says the state of emergency will likely change as the advice is updated.

He said the declaration would remain in place "for as long as it needs to be".

Andrew Barr, the Chief Minister of the ACT, declared a public health emergency within minutes of the Victorian declaration after the territory recorded its second case of COVID-19.

A state of emergency was declared in Western Australia Sunday, and its Government on Monday was introducing precautionary measures at schools across the state.

Emergency powers have also been invoked in New South Wales to force the immediate cancellation of public events of more than 500 people, with fines of up to $11,000 for those who break the laws.

A number of major cultural institutions, including the National Gallery of Victoria, have been closed indefinitely. ( ABC News: Nicole Asher )

Victoria's state of emergency gives the chief health officer the power to quarantine groups of people or place areas under social distancing measures.

The declaration gives Victoria the ability to enforce a ban on gatherings of more than 500 people and a mandatory 14-day self-isolation period for those returning to the country from overseas.

The mandatory self-quarantine period is for anyone who landed in Australia after midnight last night. ( AAP: Mal Fairclough )

Non-essential gatherings of more than 500 people will be banned but that does not include travelling on public transport, or passing through public spaces on the way to work.

The main focus of the ban was sporting events, cultural events or functions a club or association might run which were not essential, Mr Andrews said.

Large conventions such as those that might run at the Melbourne Convention Centre or other similar venues are deemed non-essential.

Significant penalties were in place for those who failed to comply with the quarantine order, Mr Andrews said, but he said people were using "common sense" and fines were not anticipated.

"These powers have never been used before," Mr Andrews said.

"That gives you, I hope, a really clear sense about the unprecedented nature of this public health emergency, this really significant challenge."

The state of emergency is different to the state of disaster which was declared during the summer's bushfire crisis.

Powers during a state of emergency: Powers to detain any person or group in a particular area to eliminate or reduce a serious risk to public health

Powers to detain any person or group in a particular area to eliminate or reduce a serious risk to public health The movement of people within the emergency area can be restricted

The movement of people within the emergency area can be restricted People can be prevented from entering an emergency area

People can be prevented from entering an emergency area Authorised officers can make any direction considered reasonably necessary to protect public health Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008, section 200

Victorian health authorities on Monday said 14 new cases of coronavirus were confirmed in the state overnight.

The state's total on Monday stood at 71 cases.

Mr Andrews said "nothing we do" could deliver the outcome of no new cases, but the state's focus was on "flattening the curve" to prevent the health system from being overrun by critically ill patients.

"This is dynamic. It will change," he said.

Cruise liner enters Australia just in time

A Viking Orion cruise liner docked in Port Melbourne Monday afternoon as Australia's international lockdown measures came into effect.

A Border Force spokesman said about 724 people were on board the cruise ship, including 27 Australians.

The ship entered Australian waters just before Prime Minister Scott Morrison's ban on international cruise ships came into effect at midnight on Sunday.

A Viking Orion cruise liner docked in Port Melbourne this afternoon with 724 people on board. ( ABC News: Bakri Mahmoud )

"Everyone will be subject to the 14 day self-isolation period if they remain in Australia," the Border Force spokesman said.

About 40 people were expected to stay on the ship before catching a flight out of the country Tuesday.

The remaining passengers were either entering self-isolation in hotels or other accommodation, or trying to book flights out of Australia.

A Viking spokeswoman said the passengers had been provided with the latest information about mandatory self-isolation and the company was arranging flights for anyone who wanted to return home.

Viking also announced last week it would temporarily suspend all cruise operations until May.

For the first time since the Spanish Flu pandemic in 1919, ANZAC Day dawn services across Victoria have been cancelled, with only one private service to be held at the Shrine of Remembrance.

RSL Victoria has barred the public from attending and said only 20 official guests would be there to minimise the spread of COVID-19.

The annual ANZAC Day march through Melbourne's CBD and midday service at the Shrine of Remembrance have also been cancelled.

RSL sub-branches across regional Victoria will also be asked to conduct just one ANZAC Day commemorative service.

The booze buses regularly used by police to test drivers for drugs and alcohol on Victoria roads will no longer be used by police, Commissioner Graham Ashton announced at a press conference in the afternoon.

Instead, pairs of two officers will run drug and alcohol testing in mobile units, where it is easier to control sanitisation.

Libraries and galleries make 'gut-wrenching' decision to shut doors

Major institutions across Victoria have closed their doors to the public in a bid to limit the spread of the virus.

Melbourne Museum, Scienceworks, the Royal Exhibition Building, National Gallery of Victoria, Arts Centre Melbourne, Geelong Arts Centre and State Library Victoria are just some who have announced temporary closures.

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Arts Centre Melbourne chief executive Claire Spencer said the decision was "gut-wrenching".

"'The show must go on' is our battle cry as an industry," she said.

"To say this decision is counterintuitive and deeply upsetting is a gross understatement."

The producers of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child have also suspended performances until April 12.

After concerts were cancelled Sunday, the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra Monday afternoon announced it would live stream Monday night's performance of Scheherazade in order to "keep the music going".

In a statement, the orchestra said it planned to live stream more performances over coming weeks and urged ticketholders to consider donating their payment to fund the performances.

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The gaming floor at Crown Casino will put in place some "social distancing measures" including shutting down every second electronic gaming machine and requiring customers to sit further apart, the casino said.

But events or functions involving more than 500 people would not be allowed to go ahead.

The Arts Centre Melbourne will be closed for at least a month. ( ABC News: Ron Ekkel )

'Extraordinary times' as Melbourne's events grind to a halt

The City of Melbourne were to close its six libraries and four recreation centres from Monday until at least the end of the month, with the possibility of the closures being extended.

But the city's childcare centres will remain open.

Cr Capp admits she is concerned about the city becoming a ghost town. ( ABC News )

Lord Mayor Sally Capp said March was one of the busiest months and 149 events had been cancelled due to the ban on large gatherings.

"We really are living in extraordinary times," she said.

The city's team of 400 red jacket volunteers who provide advice and assistance to tourists were to cease operations immediately.

Melbourne City Baths has closed until at least the end of the month. ( ABC News: Zalika Rizmal )

Councillor Capp said she was worried that the city may turn into a ghost town as bars, restaurants and businesses closed down.

"If you feel well, sanitize and carry on," she said.

"We're encouraging people where they feel healthy and where it is appropriate to keep working and keep coming into the city."

Panic buying has caused long delays and shortages at supermarkets. ( Supplied )

Woolworths has announced it will limit the first hour of trade in its supermarkets to the elderly and those with a disability.

The new rules will allow only those with a relevant government concession card to access the stores between 7:00am and 8:00am, beginning Tuesday, and will be in place until at least Friday.

The supermarket giant said the move was prompted by unprecedented demand over the past week.

Schools, aged care the priority for health meeting

State and federal health officials were to meet in Canberra Monday and into Tuesday to discuss the specifics of the coronavirus response, including the approach to aged care and education.

A number of schools in Melbourne have announced closures or extensions of existing closures due to coronavirus cases.

Carey Baptist Grammar School and Yeshivah-Beth Rivkah Colleges have announced extensions to existing closures, while St Kevin's College will be closed on Tuesday after the parent of two students tested positive for COVID-19.

The school is waiting for more information before making a decision on whether to remain open for the rest of the week.

Coronavirus testing clinics were set up at Melbourne's major hospitals earlier this month. ( ABC News: Ron Ekkel )

A Government spokesperson said the Education Department's list of emergency school closures and relocations would continue to be updated with the latest information when possible.

A number of private schools across Victoria, including St Leonard's College in Brighton East, Ivanhoe Grammar School, and Ballarat Grammar, have announced they will close this week despite not having any confirmed coronavirus cases.

Most Victorian schools remain open for now and Victoria's chief health officer Brett Sutton said there was "genuine uncertainty" about whether they should be closed.

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt took to social media this morning to warn the Victorian community about a fake letter that is designed to look like it was authored by him and his state counterpart, which falsely claimed schools were closed.

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"Schools remain open with the unanimous support of the States and Commonwealth. The matter is being reported to the police," he said.

Carey Baptist Grammar will be closed until term two after cases were recorded at the school. ( ABC News: Patrick Rocca )

Mr Andrews and Dr Sutton said it could force healthcare workers to stay home to care for their children instead of being where they were needed — at work.

Research so far shows children are less susceptible to the virus, and Dr Sutton said there were questions about whether placing them into the broader community with potentially immunocompromised people could pose a risk.

Mr Andrews echoed earlier warnings about the virus's impact and said it was almost inevitable schools would close as cases climbed.