Victorians have been told all their schools may be closed and entire sectors forced to work from home when the coronavirus reaches a pandemic phase.

Premier Daniel Andrews has warned the measures are laid out in the state’s COVID-19 pandemic plan, released on Tuesday.

Another three cases of coronavirus were confirmed in Victoria on Tuesday, including the first locally transmitted.

They bring the total number of coronavirus cases to 18.

Mr Andrews says it is a matter of “when, not if” Victoria will move into a pandemic phase with rapid transmission of the virus.

Picture: David Crosling/AAP

“We will need to ask Victorians to do things we have never asked them to do before,” he told reporters.

The plan includes the “inevitability” all schools will close for some time and entire sectors or workforces will have to work from home, he said. Big events will also have to be called off.

“Now’s not the time for those things but that time will come and it’s appropriate, just like fire – to be frank with people.

“Some of these potential measures are serious and go beyond anything we have experienced in Victoria,” Mr Andrews said.

“But when it comes to protecting those most at risk, we need to be ready

This comes after the state confirmed its first case of local transmission, with Victorian Health Minister Jenny Mikakos saying more cases are expected.

AAP