A public health emergency for the ACT has come into effect, after Canberra's second case of COVID-19 was confirmed.

Key points: The ACT joins Victoria, Western Australia and South Australia in declaring a public health emergency

The ACT joins Victoria, Western Australia and South Australia in declaring a public health emergency During an emergency, ACT authorities can issue fines of up to $8,000 to people who breach orders to isolate

During an emergency, ACT authorities can issue fines of up to $8,000 to people who breach orders to isolate Canberra recorded its second confirmed case of coronavirus on Sunday

A man in his 30s tested positive to coronavirus on Sunday evening and had followed health officials' advice by isolating himself at home, ACT Health said in a statement.

ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr announced on Monday the territory would join Victoria, Western Australia and South Australia in declaring a public health emergency, after the ACT became the final jurisdiction in Australia to record a confirmed COVID-19 case..

It is expected that all states and territories will do the same as part of a national response to tackling the epidemic.

Mr Barr said there was no short-term solution and decisions taken now would have long-lasting effects.

"It's not just everyone goes into quarantine for two weeks and it goes away," he said.

"This virus will continue to circle the globe until everyone is immune to it or a vaccine is developed."

While an emergency declaration is in place, the ACT chief health officer has powers to remove threats to public health, including by isolating or quarantining people.

The Public Health Act includes fines of up to $8,000 for people who breach orders to isolate.

"A declaration of a public health emergency enables the chief health officer to take the necessary actions required to keep Canberrans safe," Mr Barr said.

Also announced on Monday was the cancellation of the Canberra Comedy Festival.

Easter's National Folk Festival, which attracts 15,000 people to Canberra, has also been cancelled, as has music festival Groovin The Moo.

Chief Minister Andrew Barr says the chief health officer has powers to force people to isolate themselves. ( ABC News )

Infected man visited arts festival, pub days earlier

ACT Health said the second person to be infected was assisting them as they worked to locate anyone he may have been in contact with.

On Monday afternoon, Telopea Park School said it had been told a person infected with the virus had visited the school grounds briefly while infectious but did not enter any buildings.

In a letter to parents, the school said there was "negligible risk of exposure" posed to staff, children and others in the school community.

It was also revealed the infected man was at two public locations over the weekend: the Art Not Apart festival, held in New Acton, between 4:00pm and 5:00pm on Saturday, and Capital Brewing Co in Fyshwick from 5:00pm until 6:30pm.

Chief health officer's emergency powers: order people to isolate themselves

order people to isolate themselves order people to evacuate an area

order people to evacuate an area close any road or path and prevent access to any place

close any road or path and prevent access to any place enter any place if needed to protect people's health Source: ACT Public Health Act, sections 120 and 121

Chief Health Officer Kerryn Coleman said the risk of transmission to anyone who was at those venues at those times was low.

However those who were at those locations that evening were being asked to be aware of the symptoms of COVID-19, which include fever, cough, sore throat and shortness of breath.

In a statement on its Facebook page, Capital Brewing Co said it had thoroughly sanitised all customer touchpoints in the venue as a precaution and advised staff to monitor their health.

Schools open but camps, excursions, events cancelled

ACT schools remain open, with restrictions on large student gatherings.

However, all student sports events, concerts, assemblies, excursions and camps have been cancelled.

"All of the measures that have been put in place nationwide will apply in the ACT, there will be national consistency on every single measure," Mr Barr said.

He said any decision to close schools would not be taken lightly.

"Decisions we take now would be very difficult to undo," he said.

"If we close schools, that's it for the year.

"People need to understand the gravity of all this and how decisions need to be taken calmly and sensibly against a risk reduction matrix guided by advice of health professionals."

Other Canberra venues and events will remain open to the public, though some are restricting visitor numbers.

The National Gallery announced it would continue to operate, though it had cancelled all events, tours and school groups for four weeks.

Meanwhile, Capital Football said grassroots soccer matches would be go on as planned but with extra precautions to reduce the risk of infection.

"This includes recommended hygiene measures and appropriate social distancing at football matches," the governing body said in a statement.

Groovin The Moo's organisers say it will be too hard to reschedule this year's event. ( Facebook: Groovin the Moo )

Next month's Groovin The Moo festival, one of the most popular music events in Canberra, will not go ahead.

Its organisers, Cattleyard Promotions, said in a statement that the Federal Government's recommendations on social distancing made the event impossible.

"Unfortunately, GTM is unable to reschedule the 2020 events due to the uncertainty surrounding how long the ban will be in place for, along with the logistics involved with coordinating six venues across six states and territories to align with each other, and the schedules of both our national and international artists."

The National Museum of Australia said it was cancelling public program activities including tours and school visits.

And the National Film and Sound Archive announced it would temporarily cancel education programs, on-site screenings, exhibitions and special events from 4:00pm Wednesday.

This week's Canberra Comedy Festival has been cancelled, as well as the National Folk Festival, which is held over the Easter Weekend and usually attracts about 15,000 people.

Folk Festival chairwoman Jacqueline Bradley says it is "a deeply distressing time for everyone", especially the performers, who face significant losses.

"We hope our audiences will do everything they can to support artists across any available platform at this difficult time," she said.

The National Folk Festival attracts 15,000 people to Canberra. ( ABC News: Ian Cutmore )

Meanwhile, Dendy Cinemas said it would only allow 50 per cent of each auditorium to be filled for viewings, and would implement staggered seating to ensure social distancing.

"We will not prevent families and friends from sitting next to each other," they said.

ANU recalls overseas students and staff

On Monday, the Australian National University said it had made the decision to recall all staff and students currently overseas on university travel, including those on exchange.

"Staff who are currently overseas on university travel will be contacted and be provided support to return home," the university said.

"The university has also suspended all future international travel until further notice."

A statement published by the university said they were beginning to move some courses to an online format to reduce contact between members of the university community.

"This week we will begin moving towards online delivery for many of our large classes and look at those smaller classes and tutorials where social distancing is hard," it said.

The statement also urged university staff and students to take care of their physical and mental wellbeing as the crisis continued.

"We're all feeling the physical and mental health effects of this year," it said.

"It's important we all care for one another and each other and draw together as a supportive community.

"Please don't be afraid to seek support."

Economic impact 'grim and difficult'

Mr Barr said the ACT was not immune to the economic impacts of COVID-19.

"Government alone will not be able to absorb all of the economic impact, it's going to have an impact on our local economy, the national economy and the global economy," he said.

"The situation is going to be grim and difficult for months and months and months."

Mr Barr said the government was doing all it could to keep public transport operating and protect public servants.

Where practical, public servants were being given the option to work remotely and Mr Barr said steps were being taken to protect frontline workers.

"We can't just shut society down," he said.

"We have to go about — as much as we possibly can within a sensible risk reduction framework — life as normal."

And for those Canberrans wanting to do all they can to help, Mr Barr urged them to be kind and look out for older residents.

"Be kind to one another, make good common-sense decision and reduce your risk," he said.