Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein says public schools will remain open "for the time being" and term dates will not change, while pubs, clubs, sporting venues and churches will close from midday today.

Key points: There are 22 confirmed coronavirus cases in Tasmania

There are 22 confirmed coronavirus cases in Tasmania There have been no community transmissions in the state

There have been no community transmissions in the state Premier Peter Gutwein said new venue restrictions could be in place for at least six months

But he said parents who wished to keep children home may do so from this Wednesday, with learning resources provided where possible.

He reiterated schools were the "safest place" for children.

"If you decide to take them out of the school, look after them. Be responsible for them," he said.

There are now 22 people in Tasmania who have tested positive for coronavirus, with five people being diagnosed yesterday.

There are 15 cases in the state's south, two in the north, two in the north-west and three from visitors who live interstate.

The five confirmed cases yesterday all returned to Tasmania from overseas — two from the United States, two from the Ruby Princess cruise ship and one from the Ovation of the Seas cruise.

There have been no community transmissions.

Mr Gutwein said social distancing was paramount.

"We are at war against an insidious disease," he said.

"We must bring the weapons that we have to fight it.

"This weapon is social distancing, this is not a training drill, this is real, we expect all Tasmanians to play their part."

Mr Gutwein said the closure of many indoor venues and the restriction of takeaway-only for restaurants and cafes would be implemented from midday.

"While we will review these on an ongoing basis, we should expect these measures to be in place at least six months," he said.

"I know they will change the way we go about our daily lives and I sympathise deeply with those impacted.

"These decisions are the most difficult but necessary decisions I've ever been involved in and asked to make."

More passengers from Ruby Princess likely to test positive: Veitch

Authorities have been contacting the 54 Tasmanians onboard the Ruby Princess cruise ship. ( AAP: Dean Lewins )

Tasmania's Public Health Director Dr Mark Veitch said they were making contact with 54 Tasmanian passengers who were on the Ruby Princess cruise ship.

"There are two people we have not been able to contact, although we have sent emails to them," he said.

"We're currently looking at approaching the at their residence and looking at some other means to determine whether they've actually re-entered Tasmania."

"I do anticipate that we will have in Tasmania some more people from the Ruby Princess test positive over the next two or three days," he said.

Dr Veitch said they were also contacting Tasmanian passengers onboard the Ovation of the Seas, Voyager of the Seas and Celebrity Solstice cruise ships.

"We'll be contacting the Tasmanian residents over the next one to two days with an email and SMS and then we'll be telephoning all of those people and that amounts to about 250 Tasmanians."

NSW Health said on Monday 48 people from the Ruby Princess cruise ship had so far tested positive for COVID-19, 27 in NSW and 21 interstate.

Student accommodation to be used for quarantine

50 rooms at the UTAS accommodation will be freed up to help with the coronavirus pandemic. ( ABC News: Tony King )

Meanwhile, the University of Tasmania's Fountainside Apartments will be used by the State Government in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Vice Chancellor Rufus Black said the Government requested the inner-city apartments become available by Tuesday.

There are 44 students currently in the apartments who will move to other inner-city accommodation provided by the University, freeing up 50 en suite rooms.

The Department of Health said the rooms could be used for quarantine or isolation accommodation on a case by case basis.

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