Premier Daniel Andrews has said he hopes rain forces Victorians to stay indoors this Easter long weekend as the state's coronavirus death toll rises to 12.

Key points: A woman in her 80s died in hospital after contracting COVID-19

A woman in her 80s died in hospital after contracting COVID-19 Mr Andrews said Victorians needed to prepare for the "long haul" of coronavirus restrictions

Mr Andrews said Victorians needed to prepare for the "long haul" of coronavirus restrictions Victoria Police issued another 114 fines for breaching physical-distancing rules

During a press conference on Wednesday, Mr Andrews said the total number of cases had risen by 21 to 1,212.

"Tragically another Victorian has died, taking the total number of people who have died from coronavirus to 12 people," he said.

Health Minister Jenny Mikakos said on Twitter the deceased was a woman in her 80s who died in hospital.

"My thoughts are with her family," Ms Mikakos said.

She said there were now 101 confirmed cases that may indicate community transmission, 45 people in hospital including 12 in intensive care, 736 people had recovered and more than 60,000 Victorians had been tested.

"Our message is clear: Stay. At. Home," she added.

Of the total 1,212 cases, 980 were in Melbourne and 225 in regional Victoria. Several cases remain under investigation.

Pleas for Victorians to stay home this Easter

Mr Andrews said he would not stop people from travelling to properties they owned but again stressed the Easter long weekend was not the time for a holiday.

"The only people who should be gathering is your own household, your immediate household," he said.

"It's not an Airbnb weekend. It's not a day-tripping weekend.

"You need to stay home, you need to stay inside, you need to use common sense because that's how we will protect our health system."

The Government is letting people go to holiday houses they own, but they must stay indoors once there. ( AAP: Scott Barbour )

Mr Andrews said he hoped it rained all weekend to deter people from leaving their homes.

"I haven't looked at the weather forecast," he said.

"[But] I hope it's pouring rain all weekend. I seriously do because that will discourage people from doing the wrong thing."

Victorians told to stay away from the coast

Surf Coast medicos are urging Victorians not to visit the area over the Easter weekend. ( Supplied: Reg Ryan Photography )

Healthcare providers on the Surf Coast, which includes part of the Great Ocean Road, have urged people to stay at home, even if they are legally entitled to visit homes they own in the area.

Great Ocean Road Health chief executive Sandy Chamberlin said there was no intensive care unit or emergency department in the Surf Coast Shire and any less serious coronavirus cases would still stretch local resources.

"Outcomes will be better if people get sick closer to their usual medical services, because small rural health services aren't resourced to deal with more severe illnesses," she said.

The normally busy beach at Angelsea will be closed for the Easter weekend. ( ABC News: Billy Draper )

Torquay GP and Western Victoria Primary Health Network clinical spokesperson Dr Anne Stephenson said medical practices in small communities were facing increased pressure from the coronavirus pandemic.

"This is on top of the existing regular patients who need to see their GP on an ongoing basis," she said.

Victoria COVID-19 snapshot Confirmed cases so far: 19,728

Confirmed cases so far: 19,728 Confirmed active cases: 1,483

Confirmed active cases: 1,483 Deaths: 701

Deaths: 701 Suspected cases of community transmission where the source is unknown: 4,306

Suspected cases of community transmission where the source is unknown: 4,306 Cases in hospital: 169

Cases in hospital: 169 Intensive care patients: 17

Intensive care patients: 17 Active cases in regional Victoria: 72

Active cases in regional Victoria: 72 Active cases in healthcare workers: 251

Active cases in healthcare workers: 251 Active cases linked to aged care outbreaks: 763

Active cases linked to aged care outbreaks: 763 Tests since pandemic began: More than 2.44 million Updated Thursday September 10 Latest Victorian Government info

While it is not illegal for Victorians to visit holiday properties they own, Surf Coast Shire Mayor Rose Hodge urged all holiday home-owners to heed the message and stay at home.

"It's time for Victorians to do the right thing and stop looking for loopholes of how not to stay at home," Cr Hodge said.

"This is not your usual Easter.

"The sooner we limit the spread, the sooner life can return to normal and we can start to plan holidays again — when we will welcome everyone back with open arms."

Winemakers' recovery from bushfire cruelled by coronavirus

Winemakers in Victoria's north-east have been crippled by both the summer bushfires and the coronavirus outbreak.

Feathertop Winery co-owner Janelle Marsden said she had been looking forward to an Easter tourism rebirth, but coronavirus restrictions meant the cellar door, cafe and pub in Porepunkah had to close, leaving most staff out of a job.

The Feathertop Winery's grape crop was ruined by smoke taint. ( Supplied: Feathertop Winery )

Ms Marsden said she hoped people who would normally enjoy a bottle of wine at the vineyard over Easter would instead play virtual holiday-maker and buy wine online to drink at home.

"Everyone's pretty much at a very low to zero bank balance at the moment," she said.

"We're all very much week-to-week, surviving on very small morsels.

"Buying directly from businesses could never be more important than it is now."

The entire Feathertop crop has been written off because of smoke taint, resulting in 150 tonnes of fruit being left to rot on the ground.

Ms Marsden said some of the region's businesses would never look the same again.

"After bushfires the idea is that this takes potentially a decade to recover. With covid-19 on top you're talking about a multi-generational recovery for a lot of these businesses," she said.

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Mr Andrews said there was some stability in the numbers and he was grateful to the "vast majority" of Victorians who were doing the right thing and staying at home.

"That's why we can report relative stability in the numbers. Yes, we have seen positive signs but it's fragile," he said.

"It's deeply inconvenient, it's very challenging but it is working."

More than 1,000 people hired for coronavirus jobs

The State Government is providing $10,000 grants to the small businesses hit hardest by the coronavirus crisis. ( ABC News: Ron Ekkel )

The Department of Health and Human Services has issued an emergency order to allow pharmacists to accept digital images of Schedule 4 prescriptions from prescribers without relying on the original or faxed copy.

"This means for patients that are self-isolating, their GP can email their pharmacist who may be able to arrange delivery to their home," a statement from the department said.

Mr Andrews said the Government had paid out 17,000 payroll tax refunds to eligible businesses while 5,000 small businesses in the worst-affected sectors would receive a $10,000 grant by close of business today.

The grants are available to businesses with payrolls under $650,000 heavily impacted by the coronavirus measures.

He said 1,300 people had been given jobs as part of the Working for Victoria fund including at Foodbank, cleaning trams and in call centres.

Victorians must prepare for the 'long haul'

The State Government announced earlier this week that Victorian teachers and people aged over 65 were now eligible for coronavirus tests.

Mr Andrews said community transmission, where the source of the infection cannot be traced to someone who had travelled overseas, was "the real challenge".

He said he could not tell Victorians when the shutdown measures might be over.

"We have to be prepared for the long haul," he said.

While Mr Andrews said a vaccine of this type had not been developed before, he said medical experts were confident one would be found.

"That is not weeks, it is absolutely months, and it may be many months," he said.

Victoria is currently under stage three shutdown measures, and Mr Andrews said he could not rule out further restrictions.

"We've all sacrificed a lot to achieve these numbers, let's not give back all those gains by having an Easter like it's a normal year. Because it's not," he said.

"Do it for people who are on ventilators, people who are vulnerable."

The State Government is expanding the criteria for coronavirus testing. ( Reuters: Vasily Fedosenko )

Fines issued at dinner party, bikie clubhouse

Victoria Police said another 114 fines had been issued for breaches of physical-distancing rules in the 24 hours to 11:00pm Tuesday.

During that period officers conducted 835 spot checks at homes, businesses and non-essential services across the state bringing the total to 16,039 since March 21.

Examples of breaches that resulted in fines included:

Seven people issued infringements after gathering at a house for a dinner party

Seven people issued infringements after gathering at a house for a dinner party Three mates who were playing video games in a loungeroom and did not live together

Three mates who were playing video games in a loungeroom and did not live together Four people fined after being found walking the streets seeking drugs

Four people fined after being found walking the streets seeking drugs A group of friends issued infringements for hanging out in a park

Police issued fines to seven men and two women who were socialising at the Rebels outlaw motorcycle gang clubhouse in Sunshine West on Tuesday night.

They were given $1,652 fines for breaching the directions of the Chief Health Officer and provided directions to move on.

"As always, Victoria Police will be closely proactively monitoring all activities of outlaw motorcycle gangs," a police spokesman said.

"This will include issuing fines whenever they are found breaching the Chief Health Officer's directives by congregating in clubhouses."

People sleeping rough fast-tracked into emergency accommodation

Mark Fitzgerald, an outreach coordinator from Launch Housing, said he held concerns for rough sleepers who often had compromised immunity.

For almost four weeks, Mr Fitzgerald has been coordinating a team of outreach workers working around the clock to help people experiencing homelessness find accommodation.

As of Wednesday, the team had found a roof for more than 220 people.

Launch Housing has been working to get people into accommodation during the crisis. ( Reuters: David Gray, file photo )

"There's been an array of different responses from people to COVID-19; some are fearful, some are confused. At the start of this process, it was difficult to get the message across to some people about the seriousness of this, but that changed with the environment when the streets became empty," Mr Fitzgerald said.

One silver lining of the crisis, he said, was that his team was able to reach out to a small group of people who would not normally engage with homelessness services.

"These people are really vulnerable, really at risk, it's important to emphasise that we need to be compassionate towards them," he said.

Film festival cancelled

The organisers of the Melbourne International Film Festival say they are considering other ways to engage with audiences this year. ( Supplied: Tony Zara and Dean Walliss )

Organisers of the Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) announced the event, due to take place in August, had been cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic.

"It is a decision that was very hard but plainly necessary, responsible and required given what we all face together at this moment," artistic director Al Cossar said in a statement.

The statement said the organisers were considering "other means of maintaining its engagement with audiences" this year.

"We will share details as they become available," it said.

Any passes or memberships for the 2020 MIFF will now be valid for the 2021 event.